Chapter VI PROVISIONS FOR CULTIVATION OF UNCULTIVATED LANDS

Where the Assistant Commissioner having jurisdiction over any area in which any land is situated is satisfied that any land within such area has remained uncultivated for a period of not less than two consecutive years without sufficient cause, he may by notice served upon the land-owner and any other person entitled to be or in possession of the land require such persons to cultivate the land within one year from the date of service of such notice.

If the land is not cultivated within one year from the date of service of the notice under section 84, the Assistant Commissioner may, after making such inquiry as may be prescribed, lease out the whole or part of such uncultivated land to any suitable lessee for a period not exceeding five years on the condition that the lessee shall pay such reasonable rent as the Assistant Commissioner may fix or on such other terms as can be secured.

Where the person to whom a lease has been granted under section 85, does any act referred to in sub-section (1) of section 22, the Assistant Commissioner may cancel the lease and grant a fresh lease to any other person on such terms and conditions as he thinks fit and the person whose lease is cancelled under this section shall forfeit all rights under his lease and shall also be liable to pay such sum by way of damages as may be determined by the Assistant Commissioner in each case. The sum so determined as damages shall be recoverable as arrears of land revenue.

(1) Every lease granted under this Chapter shall be executed by the Assistant Commissioner on behalf of the land-owner or other person entitled to be in possession of the land, and the lessee shall be liable to pay the rent specified in the lease to the person on whose behalf the lease was executed at the time and in the manner provided for in the lease.

(2) The land-owner or other person on whose behalf the land is leased out by the Assistant Commissioner shall, in respect of the services rendered by the State Government under this Chapter, be liable to pay to the State Government a sum equal to four times the land revenue payable on the land, and the said sum shall be recoverable as an arrear of land revenue.

(3) Subject to the provisions of sections 8 and 86, every lease executed by the Assistant Commissioner under this Chapter shall be valid and take effect according to its terms.

After the expiry of the period of the lease granted under this Chapter, the Assistant Commissioner shall take over possession of the land and deliver possession thereof to the person entitled to such possession.