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The Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceiling on Holdings) Act, 1961

The Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceiling on Holdings) Act, 1961

General196164 sections8 chapters

The Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceiling on Holdings) Act, 1961, regulates the maximum amount of agricultural land that any individual or family unit can lawfully hold in the state of Maharashtra. It applies to all landowners, families, joint farming societies, and cooperative partners within the region. By classifying agricultural lands based on water availability and usage, the statute defines ceiling limits and classifies any excess property as surplus for government acquisition. This legislation matters because it prevents the concentration of ownership, promoting social equality and rural development by redistributing these surplus territories directly to poorer, landless agricultural workers seeking a livelihood.

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Chapter I PRELIMINARY →

  1. 1Short title, extent and commencement.
  2. 2Definitions.
  3. 2AConstitution and reconstitution of Tribunals.

Chapter II LOWERING OF CEILING ON HOLDINGS →

  1. 3Prohibition on holding land in excess of ceiling area; and area in excess of ceiling to be surplus land.
  2. 4Land held by family unit.
  3. 5Ceiling area.
  4. 6Lands held in excess of ceiling area deemed to be within ceiling area in certain circumstances.
  5. 7Persons holding both exempted land and other land.

Chapter III RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERERS AND ACQUISITIONS OF LAND AND CONSEQUENCES OF CONTRAVENTIONS →

  1. 8Restriction on transfer, etc.
  2. 9Restriction on acquisition of land in excess of ceiling area.
  3. 10Consequences of certain transfers and acquisitions of land.
  4. 11Restriction on partition.
  5. 11ACeiling area where land is converted into another class.

Chapter IV SURPLUS LAND →

  1. 12Submission of returns.
  2. 12APower of State Government to extend time for filing return.
  3. 13Failure to submit return.
  4. 14Power of Collector to hold enquiry.
  5. 15Division of survey numbers or of sub-divisions thereof in determining area of surplus land.
  6. 16Selection of land for retention in ceiling area.
  7. 17Notice to persons affected by inquiry under section 14.
  8. 18Collector to consider certain matters.
  9. 19Power of Collector to restore land to landlord in certain cases.
  10. 20Manner of considering claim of landlord to land under section 19.
  11. 21Collector to make declaration regarding surplus land, etc., and consequences thereof.
  12. 21ADamages for use and occupation of surplus land.

Chapter V COMPENSATION →

  1. 22Payment of compensation.
  2. 23Quantum of compensation.
  3. 24Collector to give notice calling upon interested persons to submit claims to compensation.
  4. 25Determination of compensation and apportionment thereof.
  5. 26Mode of payment of amount of compensation.

Chapter VI DISTRIBUTION OF SURPLUS LAND →

  1. 27Distribution of surplus land.
  2. 27APower of Collector to grant land for public purposes, etc.
  3. 28Special provision in respect of land taken over from industrial undertaking to ensure efficient cultivation and continued supply of raw material.
  4. 28-1ADeleted.
  5. 28-1AAPower of State Government to grant land to State Corporations.
  6. 28-1BDeleted.
  7. 28-ADeleted.
  8. 29Restriction on transfer or division of land granted under section 28.
  9. 29AConversion of Occupancy of land granted under section 27.

Chapter VII PROCEDURE AND APPEAL →

  1. 30Power of Collector in making inquiries.
  2. 31Manner of recording decisions of Collector.
  3. 32Service of notices.
  4. 33Appeals.
  5. 34Power of Maharashtra Revenue Tribunal to confirm, etc., order, etc.
  6. 35Limitation for appeals.
  7. 36Court-fee.

Chapter VIII MISCELLANEOUS →

  1. 37Power of Collector to correct clerical, etc., mistakes in declaration or award.
  2. 38Sums recoverable as arrears of land revenue.
  3. 39Mode of putting persons in possession of land.
  4. 40Summary eviction.
  5. 40ADeleted.
  6. 41Bar of jurisdiction.
  7. 42Inquiries and proceedings to be judicial proceedings.
  8. 43Officers to be public servants.
  9. 43AParticulars to be furnished where land is held in jurisdiction of more than one village accountant.
  10. 44Protection of action taken under this Act.
  11. 44ATribunal to exercise powers and perform duties of Collector in certain areas for certain purposes of Act to the exclusion of Collector.
  12. 44BPleaders, etc., excluded from appearance.
  13. 45Control.
  14. 45APower of revision of Commissioner in inquiries and proceedings under section 27.
  15. 46Power to make rules.
  16. 47Exempted lands.
  17. 48Enactments amended.
  18. 49Power to remove difficulties.

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