Definitions

Definitions.

1. (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
   • (a) "Commutation Settlement" means a settlement made or deemed to be made under the existing Watan law whereby the right to commute, in whole or in part, the service due by a Watandar in respect of a Patel Watan was settled, whether such settlement was made in the form of an agreement or otherwise, or has been confirmed or not, and includes any order relating to the commutation of service;
   • (b) "existing Watan law" means the law relating to Patel Watans in force in any part of the State immediately before the commencement of this Act;
   • (c) "Hereditary Patelship" means the right to the office of Patel, which is hereditary and includes the right to perform the duties of the office and to receive the emoluments thereof;
   • (d) "Matadar" means a person who is entered in the register of Matadars maintained under the existing Watan law as a person entitled to officiate as a Patel or to a share in the emoluments of a Patel Watan;
   • (e) "Matadar family" means a family descended from a common ancestor who was a Matadar;
   • (f) "Patel Watan" means the Watan in respect of the hereditary office of a Patel and includes the lands, if any, assigned or granted for the remuneration of such office;
   • (g) "Tenancy law" means—
     • (i) in the Bombay area of the State of Gujarat, the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1948;
     • (ii) in the Kutch area of the State of Gujarat, the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands (Vidarbha Region and Kutch Area) Act, 1958; and
     • (iii) in the Saurashtra area of the State of Gujarat, the Saurashtra Land Reforms Act, 1951, the Saurashtra Barkhali Abolition Act, 1951 or the Saurashtra Estates Acquisition Act, 1952, as the case may be;
   • (h) "Watan" means the hereditary office of a Patel together with the Watan property, if any, and the rights and privileges attached thereto;
     • (i) "Watandar" means a person having an hereditary interest in a Patel Watan and includes a person whose name is entered in the register of Matadars;
   • (j) "Watan property" means the movable or immovable property, if any, appertaining to a Patel Watan.
2. (2) Words and expressions used in this Act but not defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Tenancy law or, as the case may be, in the Bombay Land Revenue Code, 1879, or any corresponding law in force in any part of the State.