Determination of lands in respect of which any person is entitled to ryotwari patta

(1) The Settlement Officer shall, subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), inquire into the claims of any person for a ryotwari patta under this Act in respect of any land in a janmam estate and decide in respect of which land the claim should be allowed. (2) (a) Before holding the enquiry under sub-section (1), the Settlement Officer shall give notice in the prescribed manner to the janmi and to the Tahsildar of the taluk or the Deputy Tahsildar of the sub-taluk in which the land is situated; and (i) if the person in occupation of the land is not the janmi, to the occupant; and (ii) to such other persons as may be specified in the rules made by the Government in this behalf. (b) The Settlement Officer shall also publish in the prescribed manner in the village the notice referred to in clause (a) and after giving the parties who appear before him an opportunity to be heard and to adduce their evidence, give his decision. (3) Against a decision of the Settlement Officer under sub-section (2), the Government may within one year from the date of the decision and any person aggrieved by such decision may, within three months of the said date, appeal to the Tribunal : Provided that the Tribunal may, in its discretion, allow further time not exceeding two months for the filling of any such appeal : Provided further that the Tribunal may, in its discretion, entertain an appeal by the Government at any time if it appears to the Tribunal that the decision of the Settlement Officer was vitiated by fraud or by mistake of fact.