Short title, extent and commencement

(1) This Ordinance may be called The Saurashtra Gharkhed, Tenancy Settlement and Agricultural Lands Ordinance, 1949. (2) It extends to the whole of the State of Saurashtra. (3) It shall come into force on such date as may be specified by Government by a notification in the Official Gazette. (l) “landholder” means a Zamindar, Jagirdar, Girasdar, Talukadar, Bhayt, Bhagdar, Mulgirasia, Barkhalidar, Inamdar, Jiwaidar or and person who is a holder of land or who is interested in land and whom the Government has declared on account of the extent and value of the land or his interests therein to be a landholder for the purposes of this Ordance; (m) “Mamlatdar” includes a Mahalkari and any other officer whom the Government may appoint to perform the duties of a mamlatdar under this Ordinance; (n) “person” includes an Undivided Hindu Family; (o) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Ordinance; (p) “profits of agriculture” in respect of any land means the surplus remaining with the cultivator after the expenses of cultivation including wages of the cultivator working on the land are deducted from the gross produce; (q) “reasonable rent” means the rent determined under section 13; (r) “rent” means any consideration in money or kind paid or payable by a tenant on account of the use or occupation of the land held by him, but shall not include the rendering of any personal service or labour; (s) “State” means the State of Saurashtra; (t) “tenancy” means the relationship of landholders and tenant; (u) “tenant” means an agriculturist who holds land or lease and includes a person who is deemed to be a tenant under the provisions of this Ordinance; (v) “Tribunal” means the Agricultural Lands Tribunal constituted under section 58; (w) “State of Saurashtra” means the State created and established under the Covenant entered into by the rulers of Kathiawar and the Agreement entered into by the Talukadars and Estate-holders of Kathiawar and the former State of Junagath, Manavadar, Bantwa, Sardargadh, Mangrol and Babariawad which have integrated under the Supplementary Covenant entered into by the representative of these States and rulers of Kathiawar and includes any other State, area or territory which may hereafter integrate or merge into the State of Saurashtra; (x) “year” means the year ending on the 31st of March or on such date as the Government may, by notification appoint for any locality; (y) words and expressions used in this Ordinanc but not defined shall have the meaning assigned to them, as the case may be, in the Bombay Land Revenue Code, 1879, as adapted and applied to the State and the Transfer of Property Act, 1882. (4) Where the Collector after making such inquiry as he deems fit and giving the purchaser an opportunity of being heard comes to the conclusion that the purchaser has failed to commence production of goods or providing of services within the period specified in clause (b) of sub-section (3), or the period extended under the provisos to that clause, the land shall vest in the State Government free from all encumbrances on payment to the purchaser of such compensation as the State Government may determine and such land shall be disposed of by the State Government in the manner as may be prescribed.