Settlement of lands and solatium

(1) All Jagir lands resumed under the provisions of this Act shall, subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), be settled with rights of occupancy therein on a fair and equitable rent to be determined in the prescribed manner, with the Village Police Officer or with him and all those other persons, if any, who may be holding the land or any part thereof as his co-sharers or as tenants in pursuance of any local custom, usage or practice under him or under such co-sharer to the extent that each such person was in separate and actual cultivating possession of the same immediately before the appointed date. (2) The total area of such land in possession of each such person shall be subject to a reservation of a certain fraction thereof in favour of the Grama Sasan within whose limits the land is situate and the extent of such reservation shall be determined in the following manner, namely:- Land in possession Extent of reservation Less than 10 acres Nil 10 acres or above but less than 33 acres 5 per cent 33 acres or above but less than 100 acres 10 per cent 100 acres or above but less than 200 acres 20 per cent 200 acres and above 30 per cent (3) The rent determined under sub-section (1) shall be payable with effect from the appointed date and the rent for the period, prior to such determination shall be recoverable within three years therefrom. (4) All persons entitled to the settlement of Jagir lands under sub-section (1) shall, in the prescribed manner and within the prescribed period, file claims before the prescribed authority and on failure of filing such claim the person concerned shall be debarred from claiming any right under this section. (5) Any person with whom lands are settled under sub-section (1) shall on payment of such fees as may be prescribed, be entitled to a Patta containing the prescribed particulars. (6) Where the emolument in relation to any Village Police Officer, consists only of remuneration in cash, such officer shall, as soon as may be after the appointed date, be entitled to be paid as solatium a sum equivalent to the total emolument for the period of twelve months immediately preceding the said date and to the settlement of one acre of cultivable land with rights of occupancy therein, on a fair and equitable rent to be determined in the prescribed manner: Provided that in cases where any Village Police Officer has already been settled with one acre of cultivable land with rights of occupancy therein, prior to the appointed date solely in consideration of the impending abolition of his office, the settlement so made shall, for all purposes, be deemed to be settlement of land made under this sub-section.