UNDER THE LAND AND REVENUE REGULATION

CHAPTER I Settlement Rules

SECTION I General Provisions

Regulation - 1.

(1)     All powers of the Deputy Commissioner under these rules shall be exercised subject to any general or special orders issued from time to time by the State Government.

(2)     Definition.

In these rules, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context

(a)      Special cultivation means cultivation which involves, either owing to the nature of the crop or owing to the process of cultivation, a much larger expenditure of capital per acre than is incurred by most of the cultivators in the State. Ordinary cultivation means cultivation other than special cultivation;

(b)      Waste Land means land at the disposal of the Government, which the Government has not disposed of by lease, grant or otherwise, and which is not included in a forest reserve, or in a forest proposed to be reserved under section 5 of the Assam Forest Regulation, VII of 1891, or in a protected forest constituted under the rules made under the said Regulation, and has not been allotted as a grazing ground under rules framed under section 13 of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation;

(c)      An Annual Lease means a lease granted for one year only and confers no right in the soil beyond a right of user for the year for which it is given. It confers no right of inheritance beyond the year of issue. It confers no right of transfer or of sub-letting and shall be liable to cancellation for any transfer or sub-letting even during the year of issue;

Provided that the State Government may waive their right to cancel an annual lease and may allow its renewal automatically till such time as the State government may direct in those cases in which the land is mortgaged to Government or to a State-sponsored Co-operative Society.

(d)      A periodic lease, except in the case of town land, means a lease granted for a period longer than one year, and in the case of town land, a lease for a period longer than three years. Subject to and so far as is consistent with any restrictions, conditions, and limitations contained therein, a periodic lease, the term of which is not less than ten years, conveys to the lessee the rights of a land-holder as defined in the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation.

(e)      The terminal year of a local area, means the year up to which the rates of land-revenue shall, according to the orders passed by the State government at the last settlement of that local area, remain in force;

(f)       Settlement in these rules means the leasing of land at the disposal of the government and includes the operations of survey, classification and report, preliminary to such leasing;

(g)      Cost of survey includes cost incurred by the Deputy Commissioner for the pay of the surveyor and of the establishment.

(h)     Timber includes trees when they have fallen or have been felled, and all wood whether cut up or fashioned or hollowed out for any purpose for not.

(i)       Tree includes palms, bamboos, stumps, brushwood and canes.

Regulation - 2. Powers of Deputy Commissioners.

The disposal of waste land required for ordinary or special cultivation or for building purposes will, vest in the Deputy Commissioner who will dispose of such land by grant, lease or otherwise in the manner and subject to the conditions setforth in the rules following, provided that the Deputy Commissioner may expressly reserve any such land from settlement:

Provided that no land in any unclosed State Forest containing trees declared as reserved trees under section 32 of the Assam Forest Regulation 1891, shall be settled except with the previous approval of the State Government.

Regulation - 3. Delegation of powers of Deputy Commissioners.

The Deputy Commissioner may, by general or special order, delegate to any Revenue Officer within the district all or any of the powers conferred by these rules including the power to receive applications for land provided that

(i)       no officer of lower status than a Sub-Deputy Collector shall pass final orders to issue a periodic lease or to grant settlement of land, and provided that Sub-Deputy Collectors may not exercise such powers if the land in question exceeds 12 bighas or such other area as may be prescribed by the State government by general or special order from time to time.

(ii)      delegation of powers under rules 18 (1) and (2) may be made only to a Sub-divisional Officer.

All orders passed by a subordimate officer under the provisions of this rule shall be subject to revision by the Deputy Commissioner.

Explanation- For purpose of this rule, the words "Sub-divisional Officer" shall include Sub-Divisional Officer of a Sadar Sub-division also.

Regulation - 4. Settlement Officer.

When a Settlement Officer has been appointed under section 133 of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation for any local area or class of estates, he shall exercise the powers of a Deputy Commissioner as conferred by these rules, provided that he shall not settle any land which has been expressly reserved by the Deputy Commissioner from settlement:

Provided further that the Deputy Commissioner shall continue to exercise the powers under rule 18.

Regulation - 5. Applications for land

Application for leases of waste land shall be in writing and shall be presented to the Deputy Commissioner, or to such other Officer as may be empowered by the Deputy Commissioner under rule 3. They shall be made in such form as the State government may from time to time direct.

Vide Forms Nos. 125 and 126.

Regulation - 6. Measurement and classification of land.

On receipt of an application for land not exceeding 50 bighas in area, the Deputy Commissioner or other officer empowered in this behalf shall, in surveyed areas, unless he sees reason to reject the application summarily, cause the land applied for to be shown on the cadastral map. In unsurveyed areas maps shall be prepared in such cases or class of cases as the Deputy Commissioner may, by general or special order, direct. The land records staff shall at the same time report briefly. Whether the applicant is a person belonging to any of the categories mentioned in rule 8 and whether the land is available for settlement and suitable for the purpose mentioned in the application, and what rates of revenue are applicable to the land under the general or special orders of the State Government, or, if no such orders apply to the land in question, what rates of revenue will be suitable having regard to the rates prevailing in the neighbourhood for land of the same class. Appeals against wrong measurements, classification, or assessment of land revenue will lie as provided by section 147 of Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, provided that no appeal shall be entertained after the close of the agricultural year in which the measurement, classification, or assessment of the land was made.

Regulation - 7. Survey of land.

When no land records staff is maintained the Deputy Commissioner will cause the survey to be done, and the report required by rule 6 to be submitted, by such other agency as may be available.

Regulation - 8. Disposal of application.

After perusing the report and the map and making such further investigation as may seem necessary and settling any dispute that may have arisen the Deputy Commissioner or other officer empowered in this behalf shall either reject the application or grant a lease or allow it in part.

Priority of application

In granting lease, the Deputy Commissioner shall take the following into consideration

(i)       Settlement for agricultural purpose of lands available in compact block of 50 bighas or more will be made ordinarily With registered Co-operative farming Societies of actual landless cultivators;

(ii)      When settlement has to be given to individuals, the area should ordinarily be limited to 8 bighas to 12 bighas per family according to the fertility of the soil. In giving settlement to individuals, preference shall be given in the following order

(a)      Settlement holders who have been rendered landless due to flood, erosion or earthquake or due to requisition or acquisition of their land by Government for public purposes;

(b)      Landless cultivators and displaced persons from Pakistan who are landless cultivators;

(c)      Cultivators having less than 8 bighas of land.

Regulation - 9. Priority and Application.

Should more than one person apply for the same land, the applications which have been made first shall ordinarily be granted, but the Deputy Commissioner, for reasons to be recorded, may grant any subsequent application and reject the first.

Regulation - 10. Procedure on applications for land exceeding 50 bighas.

When the area of the land applied for is more than 50 bighas, the survey, classification and assessment of the land shall be made by or under the control of an officer not lower in rank than a Sub-Deputy Collector who shall submit to the Deputy Commissioner a report on the proceedings. In areas which have been surveyed the boundaries of the land applied for may be shown on the map. The report shall be in such form as the State Government shall direct, and in the case of subdivisions shall be submitted through the Sub-Divisional Officer.

Regulation - 11. Limit of area.

The Deputy Commissioner after persual of the report shall pass such orders as he thinks fit : provided that in the case of settlement of land exceeding 400 bighas in area he shall submit his proceedings to the State Government for confirmation.

Regulation - 12. Survey fees.

When the area of the land applied for exceeds 50 bighas, the applicant shall deposit survey fees at the rate of fifty paise a bigha : provided that survey fees need not he levied when the land applied for is included in one or more entire cadastral dags.

Regulation - 13. Conversion of annual lease into periodic lease.

The Deputy Commissioner or other officer specially empowered in this behalf may convert an annual lease into a periodic lease in accordance with such instructions as may be issued from time to time for his guidance by the State Government. (1).

Regulation - 13. A.

(1)     Notwithstanding anything in these rules or any order made there under, the State government may, by general or special order, direct that wherever a periodic lease is granted or an annual lease is converted into periodic, it shall be subject to the payment of premium at such rate as may be fixed by the State Government.

Land for non-agricultural purposes.

Provided that settlement of land on periodic basis or conversion of annual land to periodic for purposes other than agricultural shall be made only with the prior approval of the State Government and subject to payment of premium at such rates as may be fixed by the State Government from time to time.

Regulation - 14. Term of periodic leases for Ordinary cultivation.

In granting periodic leases for ordinary cultivation, or in converting annual leases into peroidic leases for ordinary cultivation, the Deputy Commissioner shall so fix the period that it will expire concurrently with the general settlement of the district or of the local area or the class of estates to which the land belongs.

Regulation - 15. Settlement of occupied lands not included in any lease.-

No person shall have any right to settlement merely because he is in occupation of land not included in any lease, granted by the State Government either to himself or to any other person.

Regulation - 16. Prohibition to enter into land until issue of lease.

Lease shall be issued on written application only, and no person shall enter into possession of waste land in any area until a lease has been issued to him or otherwise a written permission by Deputy Commissioner has been granted to him, pending issue of such lease, to enter into possession.

Regulation - 17. Liability to pay revenue.

If the occupant to whom settlement is offered accepts it, he shall be liable for the revenue assessed on the land from the commencement of the year in which he first occupied it. If the occupant refuses the settlement offered to him, settlement may be offered to any other person from the commencement of the year succeeding that in which the occupation was discovered, and the actual occupation, notwithstanding his refusal to accept settlement, shall, from the commencement of the year in which he first occupied the land, be held liable for the revenue assessed on it.

Regulation - 17 A.

The Deputy Commissioner may at any time on application or of his own motion, assess increment or grant reduction in the revenue in proportion to the change in area of the lease as a result of gain by alluvion or by dereliction of a river, or loss by diluvion, during the currency of the settlement:

Provided that no such revision of the revenue and area of the lease shall be made until the parties concerned had been given reasonable opportunity of being heard.

Regulation - 18. Ejectment.

(1)     Subject as hereinafter provided, the Deputy Commissioner may eject any person from land over which no person has acquired the rights of a proprietor, landholder, or settlement-holder.

(2)     When such person has entered into possession of [Government khas land, or Waste land or estate over which no person has acquired the right of a proprietor, Land holder or Settlement holder or any][1] land that has previously been reserved roads or roadside land or for the grazing of village cattle or for other public purposes, or has entered into possession of land from which he has been excluded by general or special orders and when further, there is no bona fide claim of right involved he may be ejected or ordered to vacate the land forthwith, and the Deputy Commissioner may sell, confiscate or destroy any crop raised, or any building or other construction erected without authority on the land.

(3)     (a) (1) In all other cases ejectment shall be preceded by publication of a notice in the manner prescribed below requiring the occupant generally to vacate the land specified in the notice, within 15 days of the date of publication of the notice on the land concerned or in a prominent place in the vicinity thereof, and to remove any buildings, houses, fences or crops, etc., which may have been raised on such land: provided that the Deputy Commissioner may give time to any particular occupant to harvest the crops, if any growing on such land. Any buildings, houses, fences, crops, etc., which have not been removed in accordance with such notice shall be confiscated to the Government.

(3) (b) The notice referred to in clause (a) of sub-rule (3) above shall be published by affixing a copy thereof in the Notice Board of the office of the Deputy Commissioner or the Sub-Divisional Officer, as the case may be, and also in the Notice Board of the office of the Sub-Deputy Collector within whose jurisdiction the land is situated. A notice shall also be published by affixing a copy thereof on the land concerned or in a prominent place in the vicinity thereof.

(4)     Any person or persons required by notice to vacate under the last preceding sub rule the land which the person or persons occupy, shall comply with the requisition within the time prescribed in the notice, running from the date of its service.

(5)     Any person or persons intentionally disobeying an order or requisition to vacate under sub-rule (2) or (3) shall be liable to a penalty which may extend to[One thousand rupees][2], and, in case such disobedience is continued to a further penalty which may extend to [two hundred and fifty rupees][3] for each day during which such breach continues.

(5) (a) Any person who having been once evicted under sub-rule (2) or sub-rule (3) from any land encroaches on any land over which no person has acquired the right of a proprietor, land-holder or settlement holder, shall on conviction before a Magistrate, be liable to imprisonment which may extend to six months or fine which may extend to ["two thousand rupees][4] or both.

(6)     Nothing in sub-rule (3) of this rule, shall apply to any person who has refused an offer of settlement in respect of the land of which he is ill possession. (3).

Regulation - 19. Land revenue and minimum assessment.

The land revenue payable on account of any lease shall be determined by such general orders regarding the assessment of land-revenue as may have been issued by the State Government when confirming the last Settlement of the local area or class of estates in question. Where no such general orders exist, the special orders of the State Government shall be taken.

Provided that the minimum assessment of an estate shall be [five rupee.][5]

Regulation - 20. Fraction in assessment.

In fixing the total demand on an estate fractions of a paisa shall not be taken into account. Any fractions of a paisa less than half paisa shall be neglected; half a paisa or more shall be counted as a whole paisa if the assessment of an estate amounts to one hundred rupees or more, any fraction of a rupee less than fifty paisa shall be omitted and fifty paisa or more shall be treated as one rupee.

Regulation - 21. Royalty on timber.

The following provisions shall apply to case of all leases for ordinary cultivation

(a)      No royalty shall be payable on any forest produce except timber sold, bartered, mortgaged, given or otherwise transferred or removed for transfer shall be liable to the full royalty under the rule relating to Unclassed State forests;

(b)      Before a lease is granted the applicant may (and shall if, for special reasons to be recorded, the Deputy Commissioner so require) clear his liability for royalty upon all timber afterwards sold, bartered, mortgaged, given or otherwise transferred or removed for transfer by the pre-payment of a sum representing the full royalty on all trees which are likely to be sold, bartered, mortgaged, given or otherwise transferred or removed for transfer. The sum to be so paid shall be estimated by the Deputy Commissioner either on the basis of rate per bigha, or in such other manner as may be fair and equitable. The estimate of the Deputy Commissioner shall be final. The pre-payment shall be made either in one installment or in such series of instalments as the Deputy Commissioner may, by general or special order, determine;

(c)      At any time during the pendency of a lease the lessee may in the manner set forth in clause (b) clear his liability in respect of all trees still standing on the land;

(d)      Notwithstanding anything contained in the preceding clauses, trees which were planted, or began to grow, on the land during the pendency of a lease shall be exempted from all payment of royalty even if sold, bartered, mortgaged, given or otherwise transferred or removed for transfer. When land has been settled continuously for twenty years. All trees standing thereon shall be presumed to have been planted, or to have begun to grow, during the pendency of the lease;

(e)      If no trees other than trees exempted under clause (d) are standing upon the land of a lessee, he may at any time apply to the Deputy Commissioner for an endorsement to this effect upon his lease, and the Deputy Commissioner, after ascertaining that the allegation is correct, shall make such endorsement free of charge;

(f)       Subject to the payment of such royalty, if any, as is due under clauses (a), (b) or (c) of this rule, the holder of a periodic or annual patta shall be entitled to cut down or sell any tree standing on the land covered by his lease provided that the holder of an annual patta shall not be entitled to cut down or lop branches from trees of such classes and within such areas as may be notified in this behalf by the State Government.

Regulation - 22. Refund of value of timber on resignation of a grant.

In any case in which settlement holder has paid royalty for timber standing on his estate he may, in case he hereafter resigns the whole or any portion of his estate, be granted a refund of the value of the timber of trees standing thereon subject to the following provisions.-

(i)       Where the area resigned is a compact area of 250 acres or upwards the settlement-holder shall be entitled to a refund, in respect of all unused timber, of the royalty paid at the time of settlement;

(ii)      Where the area resigned is not a compact area of 250 acres, refund of the royalty paid at the time of settlement in respect of all unused timber may be made at the discretion of the Commissioner;

(iii)     Where a settlement holder resigns land on which valuable trees have been planted subsequent to settlement, a fair valuation of the trees standing on the land may be paid to the settlement holder at the discretion of the State Government;

(iv)    When a refund is claimed under clause (i) or (ii) it shall be for the settlement-holder to prove the amount of royalty paid at the time of settlement in respect of the area resigned. The Deputy Commissioner shall cause a Forest Officer to estimate what proportion the value of the standing trees bears to the value of trees of the time of settlement, and the amount of the refund shall bear the same proportion to the amount of royalty paid at the time of settlement: provided that the Commissioner may at his discretion authorise a forest Officer to assess the timber at its present market value in situ, in cases where it is not possible to prove the amount of royalty paid in respect of the the area resigned.

Regulation - 23. Road side land.

(1)     Nothing in these rules shall entitle any person to obtain a lease in respect of land within 35 feet of the centre line of a public road. Any person occupying or encroaching on such land shall be liable to ejectment under Rule 18 of the Rules.

Explanation :- The expression "public road" includes (i) any road maintained by the State Government or by a local authority and (ii) any other road declared by the State Government to be a public road for the purpose of this rule.

(2)     Except under the general or special order of the State Government, no new periodic lease shall be issued in respect of land within one chain (66 Feet) of the 35 feet reservation from the centre line of the road maintained by the State Government.

Regulation - 24. Resignation.

If any settlement holder wishes to relinquish the whole of his estate, or any entire fields (dags) within his estate he shall, after paying all the land revenue due from him in respect of the estate or fields proposed to be relinquished, tender a written petition to the Deputy Commissioner or other officer empowered in this behalf. The latest date for filing such petition shall be the 15th February. If the latest date falls on a Gazetted holiday, petitions for relinquishment may be tendered on the first opening day after such holiday.

Regulation - 25. Settlement of land previously resigned.

Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules, if it be proved that the applicant for, or occupant of, any land relinquished during the previous year, the settlement, if any with him shall be on an annual lease and he shall be liable to be assessed on such land at 50 percent, above the rates at which he would otherwise have been assessed. On expiry of such annual lease, resettlement shall be made with the settlement-holder if he desires it, at the ordinary rates, and under the ordinary rules.

Regulation - 26. Confirmation and cancellation of settlements.

Subject to the general control of the State Government, the Commissioner shall have power to confirm all settlements, and also to cancel any settlement made in contravention of these rules, after giving the lease-holder an opportunity of being heard.

Regulation - 27. Settlement of town lands.

Non-application of these rules to town land- Unless otherwise directed by the State Government, nothing in these rules shall apply to the land included in a military cantonment. The State Government may, from time to time, prescribe special rules for the settlement of land within two miles (3 Km.) of a military cantonment or a municipality, or within half a mile of a small town notified under the Assam Municipal Act, 1956, or a town land declared under the Assam Land Revenue Reassessment Act, 1936 or the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation 1886. But unless and until such rules have been prescribed, the settlement of such land shall be effected under the foregoing rules, provided that no periodic lease shall be issued for such land except where it has, or is likely to have, no non-agricultural value.

Regulation - 28.

Land within two miles (3 Km.) of a military cantonment or a municipality or within half a mile of a small town notified under the Assam Municipal Act, 1956, or town-land area declared under the Assam Land Revenue Re-assessment Act, 1936, or the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation 1886, may be settled on periodic lease for purpose other than agricultural on such terms as may be approved by the State Government.

SECTION II Special Provisions Relating to Applications for special Cultivation

Regulation - 29.

The following additional rules shall apply only to applications for waste land for special cultivation.

Regulation - 30. Applications to be in writing.

Leases for special cultivation will be issued on written application only.

Regulation - 31. Lands which may not be leased under this Section.

(1)     Ordinarily, waste land of the following description shall not be leased under this Section without the special sanction of the State Government

(a)      Land in forests reserved, or proposed to be reserved, under section 5 of the Assam forest Regulation VII of 1891, and land in unclassed forests containing trees declared as reserved trees under Section 32 of the Assam Forest Regulation 1891;

(b)      Land specially valuable for grazing or for the supply of fuel and other forest produce ;

(c)      Land known or supposed to contain valuable minerals ;

(d)      Land claimed by wild tribes, or over which the inhabitants of neighbouring villages claim special privileges.

(2)     The Deputy Commissioner shall refer all applications received for special cultivation to the Divisional Forest Officer for report on (1) (a) and (b) above.

Regulation - 32. Land applied for to be compact.

If the area applied for exceeds 50 acres, it must be compact and such as might be enclosed within a ring fence. If the land touches a public road or navigable river, the length of the road or river, frontage must not exceed one half the depth of the area applied for; but if for any special reasons the State Government see fit to relax this restriction they may do so.

Regulation - 33. Deposit of cost of survey and of demarcation of boundaries.

If the area applied for exceeds 50 acres, the applicant shall at the time of presenting his application deposit a sum to cover cost of survey at the rate of three rupees per acre when the survey is to be carried out by a Government officer and at two rupees per acre when it is effected by an approved private surveyor. This sum shall be calculated on the area as estimated by the applicant. In cases in which the area applied for exceeds 10,000 acres if the State Government are satisfied that the charge so calculated is seriously in excess of the actual cost of survey, they may refund so much of the deposit as seems, to them to be excessive.

The Deputy Commissioner shall ascertain from the applicant whether he desires to clear and demarcate the boundaries himself prior to survey; if so, he may be permitted to do so in the manner required by the Deputy Commissioner. If the Deputy Commissioner undertakes the clearing and preliminary demarcation of boundaries on behalf of the applicant, the applicant shall deposit, in addition to the cost of survey, the cost of clearing and demarcation as estimated by the Deputy Commissioner and shall point out the boundaries to the surveyor.

On the failure of the applicant to make the deposits required by this rule within one month of the date of application, or to point out the boundaries to the surveyor after due notice, or to clear or demarcate the boundaries if he elects to do so, the application, in the absence of good cause shown within a time to be fixed by the Deputy Commissioner, shall be rejected.

Regulation - 34. Survey of land.

After deposit of cost of survey and demarcation under rule 33, the Deputy Commissioner shall cause the land to be surveyed, and a map prepared on the scale of 16 inches to the mile or on such other scale as the State Government may for special reasons direct in any case or class of cases.

Regulation - 35. Boundary marks.

During the progress of the survey the surveyor shall erect permanent boundary marks at all boundary angles and at intervals of twenty chains or less along all boundary lines not marked by clearly defined natural features. In no circumstances shall a waste land lease be issued, or possession given to the applicant, until the map has been prepared and the boundary marks have been reported by the surveyor to have been erected as required by this rule.

Regulation - 36. By whom survey to be made.

The surveyor appointed to survey lands under rule 33 shall not be below the rank of a Sub-Deputy Collector, or a person declared by the State Government to be an approved surveyor, or a person certified by the Director of Surveys to be qualified for the survey of such land. The Director of surveys will take such steps as he considers necessary to check the work done and will countersign all maps of areas of 50 acres and over which have not been prepared by the ordinary district staff, before they are finally submitted to the Deputy Commissioner for his acceptance.

All areas of 50 acres and over must be surveyed on a theodolite traverse basis.

Regulation - 37. Valuation of timber.

The Deputy Commissioner, shall, as soon as possible after an application has been filed under this Section and admitted by him, cause a Forest Officer to make an estimate of the full royalty valuation of the trees on the land applied for.

The Forest Officer shall submit his valuation if the royalty at full rate would not exceed Rs. 1,000 to the Deputy Commissioner, and the Deputy Commissioner, if he does not approve of if, may refer the matter to the Conservator, whose decision shall, subject to the orders of the State Government be final, If the royalty at full rates would exceed Rs. 1,000, the Forest Officer shall before sending his valuation to the Deputy Commissioner, submit it for confirmation to the conservator, who may reduce it up to a maximum of 50 percent, if he considers that it is too high, having regard to the inaccessibility of the timber to a market or to any other consideration. Should the Conservator consider that a larger reduction is called for than 50 percent on the Forest Officer's valuation, he will report the case to the State Government for sanction to such reduction. If the applicant is dissatisfied with the valuation fixed by the Conservator he may appeal to the State Government.

Regulation - 38.

In special cases, payment of the value of timber on the land may be postponed for such time and under such conditions as the State Government may decide.

Regulation - 39. Prior disposal of timber.

Nothing in these rules shall prevent the Deputy Commissioner from disposing of the timber or any part of it on the land applied for before settlement is completed. Any such disposal of the timber shall be arranged as soon as possible after the receipt of the report of the Divisional Forest Officer under rule 31 (2), and a definite period not exceeding two years shall be fixed within which the timber disposed of shall be removed. If and when timber is so disposed of by the Deputy Commissioner, the valuation of the remaining timber shall be made as soon as possible, provided also that the lessee shall be given the right of entering for the purpose of commencing cultivation, previous to such valuation being completed, if he so desires.

Regulation - 40. Liability to payment of premium.

In addition to the land revenue payable under rule 17 and the value of the timber assessed under rule 37, an applicant to whom a lease for special cultivation is granted shall be liable to pay premium. The rate of premium shall be fixed by the State Government from time to time for each locality The premium shall be payable on or before the date of the issue of the lease unless the State Government otherwise direct.

Regulation - 40A. Premium on land taken up for ordinary cultivation found to be cultivated with tea.

The settlement-holder of any land taken up for ordinary cultivation after the date of publication of Notification No. 3052-R., dated the 24th September 1931, in the Assam Gazette, and found to be under special cultivation, shall be liable to pay premium at the rate fixed by the Stat Government for that locality. Premium shall be payable immediately and without reference to the period of settlement mentioned in the rule 45.

Regulation – 41.

 ..........

Regulation - 42. Payment of revenue.

Full revenue shall be due on the whole area from the commencement of the agricultural year in which the lease was signed, or any portion of the land occupied, whichever is earlier.

Regulation - 43. No right of transfer in certain cases.

When any person obtains a lease for special cultivation wholly or partly free of premium it shall be a special condition thereof (in consideration of the area settled free of premium) that he shall not transfer the estate or any portion thereof by gift, sale, exchange, usufructuary mortgage, or sub-lease, or in any other manner whatsoever within 10 years of the date of issue of the lease, except with the previous consent in writing of the Deputy Commissioner and upon such terms as the Deputy Commissioner may prescribe; and any transfer made without such consent shall be null and void:

Provided that the Deputy Commissioner shall not withhold his consent in any case in which the applicant pays the full premium together with any suspended revenue due in respect of the area transferred.

Regulation - 44. Unpaid premium and suspended revenue when due.

Notwithstanding anything hereinbefore contained.

(i)       if the estate falls into arrears on account of land revenue or local rate, or any part of it is relinquished; or

(ii)      if in the opinion of the Deputy Commissioner reasonable progress is not being made in development of the grant, the whole of the suspended premium and the suspended revenue if any, shall be payable immediately, and may be recovered as an arrear of land revenue,

Regulation - 45. Right of a lessee.

Subject to the special conditions laid down, a lease for special cultivation shall confer a permanent heritable and transferable right. The term of the lease shall be 15 years after which the holder shall be entitled to settlement on a periodic Khiraj lease for special cultivation at the rates then current in the district.

Regulation - 46. Reservations between adjoining grants.

In the case of all leases of land exceeding 50 acres and not exceeding 600 acres granted under these rules, the Deputy Commissioner shall reserve from settlement (a) any land which in his opinion is required for public passage and (b) a strip of land at least 100 feet wide between the new grant and adjoining grants (if any).

In the case of lease of land exceeding 600 acres, the Deputy Commissioner shall, in addition, divide the land into convenient blocks and reserve similar strips between each pair of adjoining blocks.

If in any particular instance the Deputy Commissioner is unable to follow this rule, he shall report the departure together with his reasons to the Commissioner, who may pass such orders as he thinks fit :

Provided that if at any time it appears to the Commissioner that the continuance of any reservation made under this rule, excepting those over which the public have acquired a right-of -way, is unnecessary, he may cancel such reservation and settle the land over which the reservation was made in such manner either by exchange with land already settled, or other wise, as may appear to him desirable.

Regulation - 47. Register of applications.

A register shall be kept by the Deputy Commissioner of all applications for lease of waste lands for special cultivation.

SECTION III SETTLEMENT OPERATION Assessment of Land And Record-of-rights

Regulation - 48. Definitions.

In this Section of the rules unless there is something repugnant in the subject or context

(a)      The settlement of a local area or class of estates means a special operation carried out under the provisions of Section 17-42 of the Regulation for the formal revision of the land -revenue demand of that area or class of estates;

(b)      The terminal year means the year up to which the rates of land, revenue shall, according to the order passed by the State Government at the last settlement, remain in force;

(c)      All other expression used in this Section of the rules shall have the same meaning as in the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation and in Sections I and II of this Chapter of the rules.

Regulation - 49.

(Omitted).

Regulation - 50. Appointment of settlement and Survey Officers.

When the State Government have declared that a local area or class of estates is under settlement they may, for the purpose of carrying out the operations, appoint under section 133 of the Regulation a Settlement Officer and one or more Assistant Settlement Officers ; and also under section 134, of the Regulation a Survey Officer and one or mare Assistant Survey Officers; provided that the same officer may be vested with the powers of a Settlement Officer and a Survey Officer or with the powers of an Assistant Settlement Officer and an Assistant Survey Officer.

Regulation - 51.

(Omitted).

Regulation - 52. Term of assessment.

The term for which the land revenue is to be assessed shall, subject to the provisions of section 13 of the Assam Land Revenue Re-assessment (Act VIII of 1936), be such period as the State Government may determine in respect of any local area or class of estates.

Regulation - 53. Settlement shall be annual or periodic

Settlement shall be made by granting annual or periodic leases. Periodic leases shall ordinarily run up to the terminal year of the coming assessment. Subject to the provisions of rules 23 and 27, a person who has already acquired the status of land-holder in respect of any land shall be entitled to receive a periodic lease. When land has been taken up for a dwelling house or is under permanent cultivation a periodic lease should ordinarily be granted.

Regulation - 54.

(Omitted)

Regulation - 55. Different processes of assessment.

The assessment of land shall consist of the following processes :-

(a)      Preliminary record writing and field classification;

(b)      Record attestation;

(c)      Submission of assessment reports;

(d)      Revenue attestation;

(e)      Offer of settlement.

Regulation - 56. Preparation of draft chitha or field index.

After a village has been surveyed and demarcated a draft chitha or field index shall be prepared. The chitha shall be arranged according to the serial number of the fields in the village, and shall show, in addition to such other particulars as the State Government may direct, the name of the person what is in possession of each field, and the classification of each field according to a terminology to be previously approved by the Government. Disputes regarding the ownership of land or regarding the ownership of any interest, such as usufructuary mortgage in land, shall be decided in a summary manner and on the basis of actual possession, by the Settlement Officer or an Assistant Settlement Officer. The classification of as may fields as possible shall at this stage be tested on the ground by the Settlement Officer, the Assistant Settlement Officer and Officers not below the rank of Kanungo.

Regulation - 57. Preparation of draft Jamabandi and record attestation.

Before record attestation begins the Settlement Officer shall cause a draft jamabandi to be prepared showing, in addition to such other particulars as the State Government may direct, the fields which have been found in the possession of each proprietor or settlement-holder and the classification of each field as entered in the draft chitha but at this stage' there will be no entry under the heading "revenue" in the draft jamabandi. Each proprietor or settlement-holder shall be furnished, before record attestation begins with an extract from the draft jamabandi showing the fields which have been found in his possession and the proper classification of each field. The record attestation of each village shall be taken up by the Settlement Officer, or Assistant Settlement Officer hereinafter called the Attestation Officer, at a convenient place in or near the village. A proclamation shall previously be published in the village giving due notice to the proprietors and settlement-holders and calling on them to appear before the Attestation Officer, bringing with them their extracts from the draft jamabandi. As each proprietor or settlement holder appears before him the Attestation Officer if the proprietor or settlement-holder so desires, shall examine the entries in the draft jamabandi which relate to him, shall read out and explain the entries and shall make corrections when required. Dispute regarding the ownership of land, or the ownership of any interest, such as usufructuary mortgage in land, shall be decided by the Attestation Officer in a summary manner, and on the basis of actual possession. In the course of record attestation all the fields which have not already been inspected by a Kanungo or officer of higher rank shall now be inspected and the classification of the field shall be tested and if necessary corrected. The Attestation Officer shall hear and decide all objections to the classification of fields, and in all cases in which the field has not been inspected by the Settlement Officer, or an Assistant Settlement Officer, he shall personally inspect the field before deciding on its classification.

Regulation - 58. Submission of rate report.

iWhen the record attestation of a group of villages has been completed the Settlement Officer shall prepare and submit for sanction a rate report under the provisions of section 24 of the Assam Land Revenue Re-assessment Act, (VIII of 1936), and the rules framed thereunder.

Regulation - 59. Calculation of revenue payable for each estate and extract of draft Jamabandi to be distributed to each proprietor or settlement holder.

On receipt of the State government's orders on the rate report the Settlement Officer shall calculate accordingly the total revenue payable for each estate and shall enter it in the draft jamabandi used at the record attestation. The revenue attestation of each village shall be taken up by the Settlement Officer or Assistant Settlement Officer (hereinafter called the Attestation Officer), at a convenient place in or near the village. A fresh extract from the draft jamabandi showing only the total area, the total revenue as calculated, and the alterations if any, made in the jamabandi at record attestation shall be distributed to the each proprietor or settlement holder. A proclamation shall also be published in the village giving sufficient notice to proprietors and settlement-holders and calling on them to appear before the Attestation Officer bringing with them their extracts from the draft jamabandi. As each proprietor or settlement holder appears before him the Attestation Officer shall read out to him the total areas entered against his name in the draft jamabandi and the total assessment which is proposed in his case. The Attestation Officer shall hear and decide any objection which may be put forward.

If an objection be raised to the classification of a field which has not yet been inspected by an officer above the rank of Kanungo, the Attestation Officer shall personally inspect the field and decide on its classification. The Attestation Officer shall also make known to the people the law governing progressive enhancement of land-revenue, - section 12 of the Land Revenue Re-assessment Act, (VIII of 1936) - and in consultation with the settlement- holder shall prepare a list of persons who are entitled to the benefit of these provisions. If at the time of revenue attestation a person produces his extract from the draft jamabandi the Attestation Officer shall cause to be entered on it the revenue as finally proposed both field by field and in total. After revenue attestation the Settlement Officer shall submit through the Director of Land Records any case requiring the orders of the State Government, under Section 12 (1) (b) of the Re-assessment Act. If on further consideration the Settlement Officer would alter the classification or rates of a whole village, he shall report the case at this stage through the Director of Land Records for the order of the State Government.

Regulation - 60. Preparation and signing of leases and offer of settlement.

After receipt of the orders of the State Government and subject to such orders, the Settlement Officer shall make a final copy of the chitha and jamabandi. This final copy of the jamabandi shall be the record of rights of proprietors and settlement-holders within the meaning of section 40 of the Regulation. The Settlement Officer shall also prepare, sign and seal periodic or annual leases, as the case may be, which shall correspond in all particulars with the entries in the record of rights. The Settlement Officer shall then issue a proclamation, which shall be posted in a conspicuous place in or near each village stating the date on which and the place at which the lease will be offered to the persons entitled to receive them. On such date and at such place the Settlement Officer or, any other officer that he may depute for the purpose, shall, if the persons entitled to receive the leases are present, tender to them the leases standing in their respective names. If any of these persons are absent, the officer tendering may sign a general notice in the following form, or to the like effect, and cause a copy thereof to be affixed within three days of the aforesaid date at some conspicuous place in the neighbourhood of the centre selected for the distribution of leases

"The undermentioned persons being absent I hereby offer to them the leases standing in their respective names"

The tender of a lease, or the affixing of a copy of the notice containing the offer of a lease, as the case may be shall be equivalent in each instance to an offer of settlement within the meaning of sections 31-39 of the Regulation.

Regulation - 61.

(Omitted)

Regulation - 62. Particulars which the chitha shall contain.

The Chitha referred to in rule 60 shall contain the following particulars, in addition to any which may be specially directed by the State Government

(1)     Number of the field.

(2)     Area of the field.

(3)     Name, father's name and residence of the proprietor or settlement -holder.

(4)     Tenure.

(5)     Assessment class or classes and area of each class of land in the field.

Particulars which the Jamabandi shall contain.- The jamabandi referred to in Rule 60 shall contain the following particulars, in addition to any which may be specially directed by the State Government

(1)     Number of the estate.

(2)     Name, father's name and residence of the proprietor or settlement-holder.

(3)     Number of each field.

(4)     Area of each field.

(5)     Class of each field.

(6)     Area of each class in each field.

(7)     Revenue (if any).

(8)     Local Rate.

Regulation - 63.(1) How settlement may be refused.

(1)     Any person to whom an offer of settlement has been made in accordance with these rules, and who desires to refuse it, shall, within 30 days of the offer, inform the Settlement Officer of the refusal by noting in writing on the lease that he refuses to take settlement, and by returning the lease to the Settlement Officer. No refusal shall be valid unless made within the time and in the manner prescribed above.

Regulation - 63.(2) How settlement may be accepted.

In those local areas in which sections 33 (2) and (3) are in force, the person to whom an offer of settlement has been made shall, if he is willing to accept it, deliver to the Settlement Officer within 30 days as aforesaid an acceptance in writing under his hand in Form No. 13.

SECTION IV Town Lands Grant of Leases and Settlement of Land-Revenue in Respect of Town land

Regulation - 64. Definitions.

In this section of the Rules, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context

(a)      Town land means any land within the limits of the city of Guwahati constituted and notified from time to time under the provisions of section 42 of Guwahati Municipal Corporation Act, 1964 (Assam Act, I of 1973), within an area declared or deemed to be a municipality or notified area under the Assam Municipal Act, 1956, (Assam Act, XV of 1957), and any other land which the State Government may declare, under the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation or in accordance with the provision of section 3 of the Assam Land Revenue Re-assesment Act, (Assam Act, VIE of 1936), to be town land.

(b)      Short lease means a lease which is granted for any period not exceeding three years which confers upon the lessee no right in the soil beyond a right of user for the period, and in particular which confers no right of inheritance beyond the period of the lease or of transfer.

(c)      A periodic lease for town lands means a lease which is granted for more than three years, and which if granted for not less than ten years confers a permanent, heritable, and transferable right of use and occupancy in the land, subject always to the due payment of land revenue and local taxes, cesses, or rates, to the reservation in favour of Government of all quarries, mines, minerals, mineral oils and all buried treasure, to the absolute forfeiture of the lessee's interest in the land on his refusal to take the renewal of the lease on the expiry of its term, and to the special conditions of any engagement into which the land-holder may have entered with Government.

(d)      The settlement of a town means a special operation carried out under the provisions of sections 17 42 of the Regulation for the formal revision of the land-revenue demand of that town.

(e)      The terminal year of a town means the year up to which the rates of land revenue shall, according to the orders passed by the State Government at the last settlement of the town, remain in force.

(f)       Waste land means unoccupied land, the property of the State Government, which the Government have not disposed of by lease, grant, or otherwise.

Regulation - 65. Town land in backward locality may be exempted from operation of this Section.

The State Government may from time to time, by notification in the official Gazette, exempt from the operation of this section of the rules any town land on the ground of the backward condition of the locality and dispose of it by lease for such term and at such rates as they may think fit.

A - INITIAL LEASES OF WASTE LANDS IN TOWNS.

Regulation - 66. Waste lands in towns shall be settled by the Deputy Commissioner in accordance with rules 67-71.

Waste land in towns shall be settled by the Deputy Commissioner in accordance with rules 67-71 of these rules subject to confirmation by the State Government. In sub-divisions the functions of the Deputy Commissioner shall be exercised by the Sub-Divisional Officer, subject to the control of the Deputy Commissioner. In this section of the rules, unless the contrary is apparent from the context the expression "Deputy Commissioner" includes a Sub-Divisional Officer.

Regulation - 67. Applications for lease of waste land in towns shall be in writing.

Lease of Waste lands in towns shall be obtained by formal application only. Applications for leases of Waste land in towns shall be in writing and shall be presented to the Deputy Commissioner, who will have a map prepared of the land or have it indicated on an existing map, and after making such local inquiry as he thinks fit, either by himself or by a Gazette officer shall pass an order allowing the application in whole or in part or disallowing it altogether:

Provided that settlement of town land shall, unless the State Government otherwise direct, be subject to prior payment of premium at such rate as may be fixed by the State Government.

Regulation - 68.

If a lease is granted it shall ordinarily be a periodic lease for town land running from the year in which it is granted to the terminal year of the town in question :

Provided that the Deputy Commissioner may grant short leases for terms not exceeding three years of lands which it is not considered desirable to lease except for temporary purposes.

When a short lease for town land is converted into a periodic lease a premium shall, unless the Government otherwise direct, be charged at a rate approved by State Government.

Regulation - 69. Periodic lease shall not be issued for town land within 25 feet from centre of road.

No new periodic lease shall be issued, without the previous sanction of State Government for town land within 25 feet, or such other distance as may be laid down by special order of Government, of the centre line of any road maintained by the Public Works Department or The Municipal Board or The Town Committee under the Assam Municipal Act, 1956 or the Panchayat.

Regulation - 70.

The land-revenue which is payable shall be determined in accordance with the principles laid down in sections 16-19 of the Assam Land Revenue Re-assessment Act, (VIII of 1936), and rule 73 below.

B. - SETTLEMENT OPERATION

Regulation - 71. Forecast report.

A forecast report is required for a resettlement, under section 6 of the Assam Land Revenue Reassessment Act, and the rules framed thereunder.

Regulation - 72. Appointment of settlement and survey officers.

When the State Government have declared that a town is under settlement they may, for the purpose of carrying out operations, appoint under section 133 of the Regulation a Settlement Officer and if necessary one or more Assistant Settlement Officers, and also under section 134 a Survey Officer, and one or more Assistant Survey Officers :

Provided that the same officers may be vested with the powers of a Settlement Officer and a Survey Officer, or with the powers of an Assistant Settlement Officer and an Assistant Survey Officer.

Regulation - 73. Revenue of town land must not exceed annual value of the site.

Town land shall be settled at a fair and equitable revenue in accordance with the principles laid down in sections 16-19 of the Assam Land Revenue Re-assessment Act, (VIII of 1936). In no case shall it exceed the annual value of the site. This value will depend upon local circumstances and on competition and must be determined by enquiry. With the exception of short leases every lease of town lands shall be renewable from time to time on expiry at the option of the settlement holder, subject to his agreeing to pay the revenue, taxes, cesses and rate which may be assessed or imposed in respect of the lands at the re-settlement and these rules shall apply to every such renewal whether the expiring lease was or was not granted under them.

Regulation - 74. Revision of revenue of town land.

The revenue of town lands may be revised before the expiry of the term of the lease, under the provisions of section 21 of the Assam Land Revenue Re-assessment Act, 1936.

If the Settlement Officer has made any sub-class for "unutilised land", and if at any time any "unutilised land" be converted into a residential site or a trade site, it shall be liable to re-assessment at the rate fixed at the last settlement for similar residential sites or trade sites in the town.

Regulation - 75. Term of periodic leases of town land.

The term for which periodic leases for town lands shall be issued is regulated by the provision, of section 21 of the Assam Land Revenue Re-assessment Act, (VIII of 1936).

Regulation - 76. Procedure for assessment of town land.

The procedure for the assessment of land as laid down in rules 55-59 above and the rules under the Assam Land Revenue Re-assessment (Act VIII of 1936), shall, subject to the provision of the aforesaid Act, be followed as closely as may be in the assessment of town lands.

C - RELINQUISHMENTS

Regulation - 77. Relinquishment.

The provision of rule 24 shall, so far as may be applicable, apply to town lands also.

SECTION V Preparation of record of Righs of Tenants and Adhiars

Regulation - 78. Application of these rules to preparation of record of rights in any local area.

The rules in this section apply to the preparation of a record of tenants' [and adhiars'] rights in any local area other than areas included in permanently settled estates when the preparation of a record of tenants' and adhiars' right has been ordered under section 18 of the Regulation.

Regulation - 79. Different processes in preparation of record of rights.

When an order has been made under section 17 of the Regulation directing that a record of tenants' and adhiars' rights shall be prepared in the manner prescribled below and shall consist of the following processes :

(a)      Preliminary survey and record-writing.

(b)      Record attestation.

(c)      Preliminary publication and disposal of objections.

(d)      Preparation of final record.

(e)      Publication of final record.

(f)       Distribution of final record.

Regulation - 80. Particulars to be shown in draft chitha.

The draft chitha or field index prepared under rule 56 shall show the names of tenants, and adhiars the rent payable in respect of, and the length of possession of, the holding of each tenant or adhiars in addition to such other particulars as the State Government may direct. Disputes regarding the boundary of any holding lying within the landlord's holdings or estate shall be decided in a summary manner and on the basis of actual possession.

Regulation - 81. Khatians and record attestation.

(1)     The Settlement Officer shall then cause draft Khatian to be prepared from the chitha. These shall contain the particulars included in the chitha and there shall ordinarily be a separate khatian for each person or body of persons interested. In case of lands not used for purposes connected with agriculture, the khatian shall show briefly the use to which the land is put.

(2)     Each tenant or adhiars, and his landlord shall be furnished, before record attestation begins, with a copy of the draft khatian. The record attestation of each village shall taken up after sufficient time shall have been allowed to the tenant and the adhiars, and their landlords to study the copies of their khatians, at a convenient place in or near the village. A proclamation shall previously be published in or near the village concerned giving due notice to the tenants and adhiars and their landlords and calling on them to appear before the Assistant Settlement Officer with their copies of the draft khatian. As each copy of the draft khatianis produced the Assistant Settlement Officer shall examine the entries therein, shall read out and explain the entries, and shall make corrections where required, disputes regarding the ownership of any holding shall be decided by the Assistant Settlement Officer in a summary manner and on the basis of actual possession. The Assistant settlement Officer shall in the like manner decide all question as to the correctness of the entries in the khatian and in particular those relating to the rent, and the class to which the tenant belongs, irrespective of whether any of those entries may or may not have been disputed.

Regulation - 82. Publication of draft record of rights.

The draft record -of-rights, consisting of the Khatian as corrected under rule 81, shall be published by being placed for public inspection free of charge during a period of not less than one month at such convenient place as the Settlement Officer may determine. A proclamation shall previously be published in or near the village informing the landlord or landlords and the tenants and the adhiars, of the place at which and the period during which the draft record will be open to public inspection and of the last date on which objections may be filed. Notwithstanding anything contained in the proclamation the Settlement Officer may extend the period during which the draft record will be open to inspection and during which objections may be filed.

Regulation - 82A. [Filing and hearing of objection.

Objections to the draft record-of-rights shall be made in a form approved by the State Government. Blank forms of objection shall be provided free of charge. Along with the original objection the objector shall file sufficient copies thereof for service on the opposite party or parties. The Assistant Settlement Officer shall issue notice to all persons concerned of the date and place fixed for the hearing of the objection. The record shall contain the names of the witnesses examined and an abstract of the reasons for absence of any of the parties materially interested unless the Assistant Settlement Officer be satisfied for reasons to be recorded in writing that the notice was duly served on all the persons concerned.

Regulation - 82B. Framing of final record.

When all the objections under rules 82 and 82A have been disposed of, and orders have been passed on all appeals to the Settlement Officer from the orders of the Assistant Settlement Officer and the draft record corrected where necessary, the Settlement Officer shall frame the final record in the conformity with the draft recotd thus corrected. The final record shall be the file of khatians as thus corrected and the chithas or field index shall not form part of it. The final record shall be printed or prepared in manuscript as the State Government may determine.

Regulation - 82C. Publication of final record.

The settlement Officer shall publish the final record-of-rights by placing it for public inspection free of charge at the place where the draft record-of-rights was published. A proclamation shall previously be published informing the landlords and tenants and adhiars, of the place at which the final record will be opened to inspection and the period, which shall not be less than one month, during which it will be opened to such inspection.

Regulation - 82D. Distribution of maps and final record.

When a map has been prepared in carrying out the settlement operations ordered under section 18 of the Regulation, it may be printed under the authority of the State Government, and may be distributed to public Officers, to landlords and to tenants and adhiars, and to others in such manner as State Government may from time to time by general or special order direct. Copies of the final record of tenants' and adhiars' rights or of portions there of, shall be printed or prepared in manuscript, and shall, after certification as prescribed under section 76 of the Indian Evidence Act, (Act I of 1872), be distributed to public officers, to landlords and tenants and adhiars', and to others, in such manner as the State Government may from time to time, by general or special order, direct. The printed maps and copies of the record or portions thereof, which are distributed under this rule to persons other, than public officers, shall be distributed free or on payment according as, in the case of each local area or class of estates, the State Government may direct.

Regulation - 82E. Cost of preparation of record-of -rights to be defrayed by proprietors, etc.

(1)     Costs incurred in the preparation of record of tenants' and adhiars', rights or such part of the costs as the state Government may direct, shall be defrayed by proprietors, settlement holders, and tenants and adhiarars in such proportion and in such instalments as the State Government may determine.

(2)     The cost of preparing the copies of maps and of the record-of-rights distributed free under rule 82D shall be deemed to be part of the costs of the preparation of a record of tenant's and adhiar's rights.

(3)     The portion of the aforesaid costs which any person is liable to pay shall be recoverable as an arrear of land revenue.

Regulation - 82F. Settlement Officer may correct record-or-rights within two years of termination of operations.

The Settlement Officer, or if there be no Settlement Officer, the Deputy Commissioner, may on application or of his own motion, within two years of the date of the notification under section 19 of the Regulation declaring settlement operations to be closed, correct any entry in a record of tenants and adhiars rights, which he is satisfied, has been made owing to a bona fide mistake :

Provided that no such correction shall be made until reasonable notice has been given to the parties concerned to appear and be heard in the matter.][6]

SECTION VI Rules under Section 34 A of the Assam Land And Revenue Regulation in respect of revision of rates of revenue without conducting re-settlement operation

Regulation - 82G.

Revision of rates of revenue due to change of factors.When the factors upon which the assessment of land revenue had been made in the last re-settlement operation or thereafter have changed, the State Government may on its motion or on the report of the Deputy Commissioner of the District, order revision of rates of revenue of any local area or class of estates both for town land and area other than town land, duly recording the reasons thereof. The State Government shall publish a notification in the Official Gazette specifying the particular local area or class of estates which are placed under the operation of revision of rates of land revenue under this rule.

Regulation - 82H.

Deputy Commissioner to exercise power of settlement Officer. For the purpose of carrying out the operation of revision of rates of land revenue under rule 82 G,

(i)       The Deputy Commissioner of the District shall exercise all or any of the powers of a Settlement Officer under Section 138 of the Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886;

(ii)      The Circle Officers in the district shall be appointed as the Assistant Settlement Officer and Assistant Survey Officers under Section 133 and 134 respectively of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886; and

(iii)     The Deputy Commissioner shall engage the existing land records staff in the Circle(s) for the purpose.

Regulation - 82 I. Measure to cover all classes of land.

For the purpose of effective revision of rates of revenue the Deputy Commissioner, the Assistant Settlement Officer and the Assistant Survey Officer shall take all necessary measures to cover all classes of land within their jurisdiction.

Regulation - 82 J. Assessment proposal and its finalisation.

The Deputy Commissioner shall prepare assessment proposal and invite objections suggestion thereon from the person likely to be affected thereby, within a period not exceeding thirty days from the date of notification. He shall thereupon submit the proposal for revision of rates of revenue to the Director of Land Records within a period not exceeding thirty days from the date of expiry of the period fixed for receiving objections or suggestions. The Director of Land Records in turn shall forward the assessment proposal with his comments to the Government who shall consider it and communicate its order on the proposal to the Deputy Commissioner through the Director of Land Records, who shall notify the revision of rates in the Official Gazette.][7]

CHAPTER II Rules for the Allotment of Grazing Grounds

Regulation - 83. Survey and demarcation of grazing grounds.

Whenever it may appear to the Deputy Commissioner, after local inquiry, to be necessary that any land should be allotted from the land referred to in section 12 of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886, to the inhabitant of any village or villages as a grazing ground, the Deputy commissioner shall cause such land to be demarcated with temporary boundary marks and, if it has not been already cadastrally surveyed, a map of it to be prepared on the scale of 16 inches to the mile.

Regulation - 84. Preparation of notice.

When the land which it is proposed to allot as grazing ground has been temporarily demarcated and the map, if required, has been prepared, the Deputy Commissioner shall cause a notice to be prepared of the proposal allot the said land as a grazing ground.

VIDE FORM NO. 107

Regulation - 85. publication of notice.

This notice shall be published in English and in the vernacular at the office of the Deputy Commissioner and at the sub-divisional office, circle office and police station within the jurisdiction of which the land which it is proposed to allot as grazing ground is situated, and in the Assam Valley on the notice board of the gaonbura or gaonburas concerned, and published by beat of drum in the vicinity.

Regulation - 86. Hearing of objection.

The Deputy Commissioner shall receive and inquire into any objection which may be presented to him against the allotment of the proposed grazing ground within one month after the date of publication of the notice referred to in rule 85, and on such inquiry may add any available adjacent waste land to the proposed grazing ground or remove any land from it.

Regulation - 87. Powers of Deputy Commissioner's to alter the area and boundaries.

If, on inquiry into objections under rule 86, the Deputy Commissioner makes any alteration in the area or boundaries of the proposed grazing ground, he shall publish a revised notice in the manner prescribed in rule 85, and shall cause at the same time the revised boundaries to be temporarily demarcated and shown on the map. He shall receive and inquire into any objections which may be presented within one month of the publication of the revised notice, as provided on rule 86.

Regulation - 88. Confirmation of proceedings.

When all objections presented within one month of the publication of a notice under rule 85, or of a revised notice under rule 87, have been disposed of, and no alteration or no further alternation of the area or boundaries of the proposed grazing ground appears to the Deputy Commissioner to be necessary, he shall report his proceedings to the Commissioner who may confirm them with the approval of Government.

Regulation - 89. Cost of demarcation.

As soon as the proceedings have been confirmed, the Deputy Commissioner shall prepare an estimate of the cost which may be incurred in demarcating the grazing ground with such boundary marks as may be required and notify the amount of such cost to the inhabitants of the village or villages concerned in such manner as he may deem fit, requiring it to be deposited at the Treasury within such time as he may direct.

Regulation - 90. Extinction of rights.

Notwithstanding anything contained in rules 83 to 88, all grazing grounds with areas and boundaries defined, constituted out of any land over which at the time they were constituted, no person had the rights of a proprietor, landholder or settlement-holder, by the Settlement Officer at the regular settlement or re-settlement of a district, shall be deemed to have been constituted under the said rules.

Regulation - 91. Declaration of grazing grounds.

As soon as the cost of demarcation has been deposited the Deputy Commissioner shall cause to be published in the manner prescribed in rule 85, a final notice declaring the land to be allotted as grazing ground. He shall also cause the grazing ground to be entered in the register of grazing grounds and the boundaries thereof to be demarcated with such boundary-marks as may be required.

VIDE FORM NOS. 108 AND 109

Regulation - 92. Use of grazing ground free of charge after issue of final notice.

After the issue of the final notice declaring any land to be allotted as grazing, ground, such land may be used as a grazing ground free of charge by persons other than professional graziers, and shall not be occupied or disposed of for any other purpose unless the State Government shall so direct.

Regulation - 93. Conditions for use of grazing grounds.

The Deputy Commissioner may, if he thinks it desirable to do so, prescribe conditions on which a grazing ground may be used, and in such cases may issue passes either generally or by name to persons entitled to use it.

Regulation - 94. Rate of fees for the use of village grazing grounds.

Professional graziers are not entitled to use village grazing grounds except in quite exceptional circumstances, In such circumstances the Deputy Commissioner may charge entirely at his discretion for any halt. Exceeding 7 days at a rate not exceeding twice the annual grazing fee obtaining in the district concerned for the cattle so kept. For a period of 7 days only or less the Deputy Commissioner may at his discretion charge at a rate not exceeding the annual grazing fee obtaining in the district concerned for the cattle so kept. If the Deputy Commissioner finds it possible to require his previous permission to the use of village grazing grounds in either of the two cases above referred to, he may exercise his discretion accordingly.

Regulation - 95. Punishment for contravention of rule.

When any grazing ground has been finally demarcated under rule 89, no person shall occupy any part of such grazing ground for purposes other than grazing. Whoever contravenes this rule shall be punished with fine to be imposed by the Deputy Commissioner which may extend to fifty rupees.

Regulation - 95A.

If at any time the Deputy Commissioner is of opinion that a village Grazing ground constituted under the foregoing rules is wholly or in part not needed for the purpose for which it was allotted, he shall publish a notice regarding the proposed cancellation of the allotment, hear objections and forward his proceedings together with his recommendation to Government for final orders. The manner of publication of notice and hearing objections shall be the same as in the foregoing rules. In making his recommendation the Deputy Commissioner shall consider if any payment is to be made to the villages as a body for the cost of demarcation if any borne by them originally and whether the claims of persons who may have surrendered land for the purpose of constituting the reserve should revive on cancellation of the reserve or part thereof. The Government will pass orders either accepting, rejecting or modifying the recommendation of the Deputy Commissioner.

Regulation - 96. Delegation of Deputy Commissioner's power to Sub-Divisional Officer.

The Deputy Commissioner may direct a Sub-Divisional Officer to make the preliminary inquiry, issue notices, and hear objections in regard to the allotment of grazing grounds in his subdivision.

CHAPTER II A Rule under Section 20

Regulation - 96A. Barring of application of certain sections or portions of sections to particular area or class of estates.

(1)     The following provisions of the Land and Revenue Regulation shall not apply to the settlement of any area or estate in the Assam Valley or in the district of Cachar excluding Karimganj Sub-Division, (now district) viz

(i)       sub-section (2) of section 33 ;

(ii)      sub-section (3) of section 33 so far as it relates to the delivery of an acceptance;

(iii)     proviso (a) to section 34 ; and

(2)     In addition, sections 18 and 19 shall not apply to any area or estate in the Assam Valley or in the district of Cachar excluding Karimganj Sub-Division which is not included in a village which has been traversed, surveyed, mapped and classed.

CHAPTER III Rules under Sections 26, 27, 152 and 155 

(Survey and Demarcation of Land)

Regulation - 97. Revenue Officer to whom reports on boundary-marks are to be made.

The Revenue Officer to whom proprietors, settlement-holders, and other persons mentioned in section 26 of the Regulation are required to report if permanent boundary-marks have been injured, destroyed removed or require repairs, shall be the Sub Deputy Collector in charge of Land Records.

Regulation - 98. Traverse survey.

When a survey and demarcation of land in any local area or class of estates is ordered to be made under part B of Chapter III of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation (I of 1886), operations shall be initiated by a traverse based on the odolite observations, which shall, if possible, be connected with two or more points which have been fixed by previous surveys.

Regulation - 99. Map.

For each village a large scale cadastral map based on the traverse survey and showing roads, rivers, railways and other physical features of the country, as well as homesteads and other fields, shall be prepared. Where a suitable large scale map is already in existence, it will not be necessary, unless the Survey Officer so direct, to prepare a fresh map: the existing map may be brought up to date.

Regulation - 100. Boundary- marks.

Where the village has not already been demarcated in an adequate manner, boundary-marks of a permanent nature shall ordinarily be erected at every point where the boundaries of three villages meet. Traverse stations shall also be marked by tree or such other suitable marks as the State Government may from time to time direct.

Regulation - 101. Recovery of cost.

The total cost of the traverse and cadastral surveys, of compensation due on account of anything done under the orders of a Survey Officer, and all expenses incurred in erecting and repairing boundary-marks, shall be realised from the proprietors, land-holders and persons entitled to receive rent in respect of any land included in the local area or class of estates covered by the survey and demarcation above mentioned :

Provided that in the case of temporarily-settled estates only the cost of boundary-marks including traverse stations shall be realised.

Regulation - 102. Levy of cost as an arrear of land revenue.

The amount to be recovered under the last preceding rule shall be levied as an arrear of land-revenue and shall be apportioned in the manner described in the next following rule with the exception of the cost of boundary marks of estates, which shall be realised in the manner described in rule 105 below.

Regulation - 103. Apportionment of cost.

When a survey carried out under the provisions of part B of Chapter III of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation has been completed, the Survey Officer shall submit to the Deputy Commissioner a statement showing the total cost incurred in the traverse and cadastral survey and in erecting and repairing boundary-marks including traverse stations within the area included in the survey. The Deputy Commissioner, on receipt of such statement, shall proceed to apportion the amount the proprietors, land-holders and persons entitled to receive rent in respect of the land included in the survey.

Regulation - 104. Method of apportionment.

In making such apportionment in areas other than the permanently-settled estates of Cachar and Goalpara, the Deputy Commissioner shall charge each proprietor, land-holder or person entitled to receive rent in respect of land included in the survey and assessed at full rates of revenue with such sum per rupee of revenue payable by him as shall suffice to cover the total cost of the survey and demarcation.

In the permanently-settled estates of Cachar and Goalpara the total cost of the survey and demarcation of the settled area shall be recovered from each proprietor and tenure-holder in proportion to the area of land under survey held by him. If the tenure is rent free, the whole cost shall be recovered from the tenure-holder. If the tenure is permanent, three-fourths of the cost shall be recovered from the tenure-holder and one-fourth from the proprietor. If the tenure is temporary, half the cost shall be recovered from the tenure-holder and half from the proprietor, unless the tenure has less than 5 years to run from the date of final publication, in which case the proprietor should pay the whole cost.

When land is held at privileged rates of revenue or where no revenue is payable by any proprietor and land-holder of land included in the survey, the land shall, for the purpose of apportionment, be assessed at the rates applicable to similar land in neighbouring estates paying full revenue; provided that when any land has already been permanently demarcated at the cost of the proprietor, land-holder, or person entitled to receive rent in such a manner that would, in the opinon of the Deputy Commissioner, be inequitable to lay any further charge on him on account of the survey, the land so demarcated may, with the previous sanction of the Commissioner, be omitted from the apportionment.

Explanation. - For the purpose of the present rule, the term "tenure-holder" shall be held to mean a person having a permanent and transferable interest in land intermediate between the proprietor and the raiyat but not having occupancy right.

Regulation - 105. Apportionment of demarcation charges.

When, any land is demarcated under Sections 22 and 24 of Regulation (I of 1886), the cost of all marks supplied by State Government, together with other charges which may be incurred in connection with the demarcation, shall be recoverable from the proprietor, landholder, or other person entitled to receive rent in respect of the estate, as an arrear of land revenue. When any marks have to be put up on the boundary between two estates, the Survey Officer shall apportion the cost as he thinks equitable, having regard to the question whether the marks are required to complete the demarcation of both.

Regulation - 106. Notice to persons liable.

When the Deputy Commissioner has in this manner apportioned the amount payable by each person liable in the area covered by the survey, he shall cause each such person to be served with a notice, in such manner as the State Government may from time to time direct, of the amount payable by such person accordingly.

Regulation - 107. Barring of the operation of rules.

The State Government may declare that all or any, portion of any, of the above rules shall not apply in the case of any local area or class of estates.

CHAPTER IV Registration 

Rules under Chapter IV of the Regulation

Regulation - 108. General Register of Revenue paying estates.

The General Register of revenue-paying estates in each district, prescribed by section 48 of the Land and Revenue Regulation 1886, shall consist of three parts, viz.

Part 1-.Permanently settled estates.

Part II-Temporarily-settled estates other than waste land grants.

Part III-Waste land grants other than fee- simple and redeemed leases.

Part I shall be kept in Form No. 19 or in such other form as may be specially prescribed by the State Government.

Part II shall be kept in ordinary periodic jamabandi form until the district has been re-settled, when it will be the jamabandi Register which is prepared by Settlement Officer.

Part III shall be kept in Form 20.

Regulation - 109. General Register of Revenue free estates.

The General Register of revenue-free estates prescribed by section 48 of the Land and Revenue Regulation shall be in Forms No. 21 to 24 according to the district in which it is kept.

Regulation - 110. General Registers where to be kept.

The General Register of revenue-free estates and the General Registers of revenue paying estates, (a) permanently- settled and (b) waste land grants, shall be kept for each district in the office of the Deputy Commissioner of the district. The General Registers of revenue-paying temporarily-settled estates other than waste land grants shall be kept at the headquarters of the subdivision or district, as the Deputy Commissioner may direct.

Regulation - 111. Language in which registers are to be kept.

All registers prescribed by these rules shall ordinarily be written in the language of the district in which they are kept. Registers of waste land grants for special cultivation may be kept in English.

Regulation - 112. Power of State Government to order new registers to be prepared.

The State Government may, whenever they think fit, order new registers to be prepared from the registers existing at the time of such order and from any other authentic information available to the Deputy Commissioner; and such additions to, omissions from, and alteration in, the entries as they appeared in the previous registers shall be made as subsequent changes have rendered necessary and the authority for every change shall be expressly referred to.

Regulation - 113. Entry of estates on part of registers on which not previously borne.

Whenever, after the preparation of the General Registers, it may be necessary to bring any estate on to any part of such registers on which it is not already borne, such estate shall be brought on to such part under a new number in continuation of the last number of such part.

All new entries under this rule shall be made in chronological order.

Regulation - 114. Alteration to be noted in General Registers.

A note shall be made from time to time in General Registers of revenue-paying and revenue-free-estates

(a)      of every alteration ordered by the competent authority in the amount of revenue assessed on any estate;

(b)      of every case in which lands entered as revenue-free may be declared liable to assessment, and assessed by competent authority ;

(c)      of every partition or union of an estate;

(d)      of every removal of an estate from the part of the register on which it is borne;

(e)      of the redemption of every mortgage in respect of which the name of the mortgagee shall have been entered on the register;

(f)       of every relinquishment of an estate or of portion of an estate;

and in every such note reference shall be made to the authority under which the change was made.

In preparing the General Registers space shall be left for entitles of the above description.

Regulation - 115. Altertion of entries in General Registers by Deputy Commissioner.

Whenever it comes to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner that any change has occurred which affects any entry in the General Registers, and renders necessary any alteration therein, the Deputy Commissioner, after making such inquiry as may be necessary, shall make such alteration:

Provided that no such alteration shall be made without giving due notice to the recorded proprietors or land-holders, and managers of the estate which the alteration will affect, and to every person whose name it is proposed to register as proprietor, land-holder or manager of such estate before such registration is affected; and any objections, which may be preferred against the proposed change or registration, shall be duly considered by the Deputy Commissioner before the change or registration is made.

Regulation - 116. Power of Deputy Commissioner to order the name of a proprietor, of etc., be struck out of register.

Whenever it comes to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner that any person whose name is recorded in the General Registers as proprietor, settlement holder or manager of an estate is no longer in possession of any such interest in the estate, the Deputy Commissioner may order the name of such person to be struck out from the register:

Provided that the Deputy Commissioner shall not strike out the name of any recorded proprietor or land-holder, or manager on behalf of a proprietor or land-holder, without giving him due notice and hearing any objections he may prefer against his name being struck out.

Regulation - 117. Information to be supplied to Deputy Commissioner on requisition.

Every proprietor, land-holder, and manager of an estate and any person holding any interest in land, or employed in the management of land, shall be bound, on the requisition of the Deputy Commissioner, to furnish any information required by such officer for the purpose of preparing, making or correcting any entry in the General Registers of revenue paying and revenue-free land, or to show to the satisfaction of such officer that it is not in his power to furnish the required information.

Such requisition shall be made by a notice requiring the production of such information before a date mentioned in such notice.

If any person bound to give information under this rule voluntarily or negligently omits to do so, or to show to the satisfaction of the Deputy Commissioner that it is not in his power to furnish such information, he shall be liable to such fine as the Deputy Commissioner may think fit to impose, not exceeding Rs. 100, for such omission, and the Deputy Commissioner may impose such further daily fine as he may think proper not exceeding Rs. 50 for each day during which such person shall omit to give the required information after a date to be fixed by the Deputy Commissioner in a notice warning the said person that such daily fine will be imposed:

Provided that whenever that amount levied by the Deputy Commissioner under this rule exceed Rs. 500, he shall report the case specially to the Commissioner of the Division and no further levy in respect of such fine shall be made otherwise than by authority of the Commissioner.

The date fixed by notices issued under this rule shall hot be less than 15 days after service thereof.

Regulation - 118. Alteration of registers on decrees of Civil Court.

Whenever any Civil Court makes a decree confirming any transfer of possession of a transferable estate, or gives effect to any decree transferring any such possession, such Court may order the transfer to be registered in the General Registers of the Deputy Commissioner, and the Deputy Commissioner shall register such transfer accordingly.

Regulation - 119. Registration of auction purchaser's name.

When any Revenue Court grants a sale certificate under Section 85 of the Regulation to the purchaser of a temporarily-settled estate or portion of a temporarily-settled estate at a revenue sale, the Deputy Commissioner shall order the auction purchaser's name to be registered in the General Register in place of that of the defaulter.

Regulation - 120. Application for registration or mutation.

Application for registration or mutation may be presented by the applicant or by any person duly authorized by him in that behalf. The application if it refers exclusively to a temporarily-settled estate, shall bear a Court Fee Stamp of the value under Article I Schedule II, of the Court Fee Act, 1870, Separate application shall be made by every such person having a separate interest or share as proprietor or manager. Joint application may be made when the proprietor or settlement-holders applying for registration hold an estate jointly without specification of shares.

If the applicant is a joint proprietor or settlement-holder in charge, or a manager he shall in his application, specify the name of the persons on whose behalf he is in charge or manager and the right and extent of the interest of every such person.

The Revenue Officer duly empowered to entertain applications for registration shall satisfy himself that every heading has been properly and completely filled up, and that the application has been subscribed and verified by the applicant or his agent under a declaration that the particulars contained therein are true to the best of his knowledge and belief. If the application is not in form as above directed, it shall be returned to the applicant for correction.

Regulation - 121. Registration land mutation register.

Every Revenue Officer duly empowered to entertain applications for registration or mutation of names shall keep a Registration and Mutation Register in Form No. 27. All applications for registration or mutation will be entered in this register.

Regulation - 122. Publication of notice.

(1)     The general notice that is issued under section 52 (1) and under section 56 (I) in the case of tenures shall be published by affixing a copy of the same on or at the following places -

(a)      The cutchery of the proprietor or land-holder of estate or other place where rents are ordinarily received, or at; the office of the mauzadar, and in non-mauzadari areas at the office of the Gaon Panchayat and Anchalik Panchayat.

(b)      Some conspicious place such as the local post office, school or bazar in at least one village appertaining to or near the estate to which the application relates, and if the estate comprises lands situated in more than one pargana or fiscal division, then in at least one village in each pargana or division containing such lands.

(c)      The office of every Deputy Commissioner, Sub-Divisional Officer and Circle Sub-Deputy Collector, and in Cachar district in addition, the office of every Tahsildar and Sub Registrar within whose jurisdiction the land or any part of the land to which application relates is known to be situated:

Provided that, if arrangements have been made to establish village public notice boards, it shall suffice under clauses (a) and (b) above if the notice be affixed to the board for the village that includes the land or a portion of the land to which the notice relates. [1]

VIDE FORM NO. 28

(2)     The special notice that is required to be served on the alleged transferor or his heirs under section 52 (2), and in the case of tenures on the recorded proprietors of the estate under section 56 (1), and on other persons specified in rules 115 and 116 shall be served on the alleged transferor or other person by tendering to the person to whom it may be directed a copy thereof attested by the Deputy Commissioner, or by delivering such copy at the usual place of abode of such person, or to some adult male member of his family; or in case it cannot be so served, by pasting such copy upon some conspicuous part of the usual or last known place of abode of such person. In case such notice cannot be served in any of the ways herein before mentioned, it shall be served in such way as the Deputy Commissioner issuing such notice may direct.

(3)     No fee shall be charged for the issue of a notice under sub-rule (1), but a fee of twenty-five paise or such amount as may be fixed by Notification from time to time by the State Government shall be charged upon the copy of the notice to be served upon the transferor or his heirs under sub-rule (2).

Regulation - 123. Registers of applications to register and of registered talukdari tenures.

The Deputy Commissioner or Sub-Divisional Officer shall keep a register of applications for registry of talukdari and other similar tenures under section 55 of the Land and Revenue Regulation, and also a register of such tenures actually registered under that section. Every application shall be made and may be presented by the applicant or any person duly authorised by him in that behalf. Every such application shall bear a stamp of fifty paise and no application shall be received unless it states that all persons interested in the tenure join in the application.

The Revenue Officer duly empowered to entertain applications for registration shall satisfy himself that every head has been properly and completely filled up, and that the application has been subscribed and verified by the applicant or his agent under declaration that the particulars contained therein are true to the best of his knowledge and belief. If the application is not in form as above directed, it shall be returned to the applicant for correction.

VIDE FORMS NOS. 26,30 AND 31.

Regulation - 124. Payment of Cost.

All costs of any inquiry or proceeding held by a Revenue Officer under Chapter IV of the Land and Revenue Regulation shall be payable by the parties concerned as such Revenue Officer may direct.

Regulation - 125. No penalty on persons applying for registration suo motu.

Notwithstanding anything contained in section 58 of the Land and Revenue Regulation, no fine shall be imposed under that section on any person who shall, at any time after the expiration of the time fixed for registration by section 50, of his own motion, and otherwise than after the issue of a notice under section 58, apply for the registration of his name, and of the character and extent of his interest.

Regulation - 126. Fees on transfers.

Fees at the following rates shall be levied by the Deputy Commissioner, Sub-Divisional Officer, or other officer duly empowered to register transfer on the registry of any transfer under Chapter IV of the Land and Revenue Regulation, and no application for mutation or registration shall be entertained until such fees have been paid.

(1)     In the case of revenue-paying lands excluding nisfkhiraj estates in the Assam Valley and waste land grants for special cultivation, twenty-five paise percent on the annual revenue payable to the State Government from the extent of interest transferred:

Provided that no fees shall be leviable when the land revenue payable from the extent of interest transferred is less than Rs.50.

(2)     In the case of nisfkhiraj estates in the Assam Valley, fifty paise percent on the annual revenue payable to the State Government from the extent of the interest transferred.

(3)     In the case of waste land grants for special cultivation assessed to revenue or assessable at some future date during the term of the grant, fifty paise percent on the maximum revenue payable during such term.

(4)     In the case of revenue free lands, 2 percent on the annual value of the extent of the interest transferred, such annual value being calculated as laid down in the Assam Local Rates Regulation and in rules issued therunder. In the case of fee simple grants no portion of which is under cultivation, the annual value shall be calculated at the rate of, one rupee fifty paise an acre on the amount of land transferred:

Provided that no fee for the registry of anyone transfer shall exceed Rs. 100 or be less than fifty paise when the transfer relates to revenue free estate, or less than twenty-five paise when the transfer relates to a permanently-settled or nisfkhiraj estate or to waste land grant, and for any fraction of paise a full paise shall be levied.

All fees under this or the following rules shall be levied from the persons in whose favour the transfer is registered, and shall be carried to the credit of the State Government.

Regulation - 127. Fees payable on registration of talukdari tenures.

No application for registration of talukdari and other similar tenures under section 55 of the land and Revenue Regulation shall be entertained until the applicant has paid fee at the following rates

(a)      If the annual rent of the tenure does not exceed Rs. 1,000 at the rate of 5 percent on the rent;

(b)      If the annual rent of the tenure exceeds Rs. 1,000, at the rate of 5 percent on the rent up to Rs. 1,000 and at 1 percent on all above that amount:

Provided that, if application for registry is made after three months from the date of creation of the tenure, fees shall be levied at double the above rates and, if made after six months from the date of creation of the tenure, at four times the above rate.

Regulation - 128. Right of public to obtain extract from registers.

The Deputy Commissioner or Sub-Divisional Officer shall supply an extract from any register mentioned in these rules to any person who may apply for the same, subject to the payment of the prescribed searching and copying fees.

Regulation - 129. Fees and prescribed condition for inspecting registers.

The registers and records of Revenue Courts shall be open to inspection on all days on which the Courts are open between certain hours, which shall be fixed for each district by the Deputy commissioner.

Authority to sanction inspection of registers and records deposited in the district or sub-divisional record room shall be exercised only by the Deputy Commissioner or Sub-Divisional Officer, or when such officer is on tour, by the officer in charge of his office.

A Revenue Officer authorised to grant an application, to inspect any register or record shall, if he refuses such application record his reasons for such refusal.

If the application is granted, the applicant shall observe the following rules

(a)      He shall not take pen or ink into the record room;

(b)      He shall not in any way alter or erase any part of the registers or records he may inspect;

(c)      He shall not remove any registers or record from the record room, or room of the Court where it is being kept;

(d)      Any person inspecting registers or records may be permitted to take notes or copies in pencil;

(e)      Any person inspecting registers or record deposited in the record-room shall do so in the presence of the Record-keeper or Assistant Record-keeper. Inspection of registers and records, before they have been deposited in the record-room, shall be made in the presence of any ministerial officer whom the Deputy Commissioner or Sub-Divisional Officer may appoint for that purpose;

(f)       A fee of one rupee shall be leviable in court fee stamps for the inspection of every register, or record of a case, after it has been disposed of ; pending records may be inspected by parties to the case or be their authorised agents free of charge. The Court-fee stamps shall be attached to the application for inspection, and shall be punched before the application is granted.

CHAPTER V Rules under Chapter V of the Regulation, Relating to Arrears and Mode of Recovering them

SECTION I General

Regulation - 130. Land -revenue when and how payable.

Every sum payable on account of land revenue shall fall due on the dates specified below and shall be payable in such manner and in such installments as therein prescribed. When land revenue falls due on a Sunday or authorised holiday the first open day after such Sunday or holiday shall be taken as the date on which the revenue fell due. The Deputy Commissioner or Sub-Divisional Officer shall be present in office up to sunset on the dates when land-revenue falls due in respect of permanently-settled estates.

DATES AND AMOUNTS OF KISTS

PART I

Ordinary Land Revenue

Cachar (excluding Karimganj Sub-division)

All estates paying Rs. 10 and above, three installments, viz., one fourth on 1st August, one-fourth on 1st November and half on 1st March. All estates paying less than Rs. 10 one installment on date from 1st to 7th March, inclusive.

All tea planters may, if they wish to do so, pay revenue on all classes of land direct into the Treasury.

Goalpara (permanently -settled tract). - All estates over Rs. 50, two installment, viz., 30 percent on 30th September and 70 percent on 15th January. All estates of Rs. 50 and under one installment on 30th September. Revenue is payable direct to Treasury.

Assam Valley (excluding permanently-settled tracts).- Regular settlement.  In villages which pay their land-revenue, or a considerable proportion of their land-revenue, by the production and sale of mustard or pulse (matikolai), one installment on the 15th March, in villages which pay their land-revenue, or a considerable proportion of their land-revenue by the production and sale of jute, one installment on the 15th November, in other villages two installments, viz., three-fifths on the 15th January and two-fifths on the 15th February. Supplementary settlement One installment on the 15th March. Revenue is payable to the mauzadar in whose jurisdiction the estate is situate. If the estate is not amalgamated with mauza in which it is situate, the revenue is payable direct to Treasury. Revenue is due from mauzadars one month after the installments, as prescribed above, become due provided that a mauzadar shall not be passed before the 1st May, to make good balance uncollected by him. At the discretion of the Deputy Commissioner the period of grace may be extended to the 31st May.

Toc

 

PART II

Miscellaneous Land Revenue

Regulation - 131. Separate account, notices and registers.

Notices under section 65, clause (2) of the Regulation shall be published together with a copy of the application made in the court of the Deputy Commissioner or Sub-Divisional Officer and in the police thanas in whose jurisdiction the estate or the greater part thereof is situated, as well as in a conspicuous part of the estate itself or, where the estate is small, of the village nearest to the estate.

A register of separate accounts opened shall be kept by the Deputy Commissioner or other officer duly empowered to dispose of applications for separate accounts.

VIDE FORMS NOS. 32 AND 42

Regulation - 132. Fees on application for separate accounts.

No application for opening separate accounts shall be entertained until the applicant has paid fees at the following rates:

If the Government revenue on the share does not exceed Rs. 1,000 at the rate of 10 percent upon the revenue.

If the Government revenue on the share exceeds Rs. 1,000 at the rates of 10 percent to Rs. 1,000 and 2 percent on all above that amount.

All fees under this rule shall be levied in court-fee stamps:

Provided that the fees under this rule should not be less than one Rupee and that for any fraction of paise a full paise shall be levied.

VIDE FORM NO. 33

Regulation - 133. Notices of demand.

Notices of demand under section 68 of the Regulation shall ordinarily be issued by, and the signature and seal of, the following officers-

(a)      By the Deputy Commissioner with respect to all estates situated within the Sadar Sub-division of a district and not included within the limits of any tahsil or mauza.

(b)      By the Sub-Divisional Officer with respect to all estates situated within the limits of a mufassil sub-division, and not included within the limits of any tahsil or mauza.

(c)      Tahsildar with respect to all estates situated within the limits of this Tahsil, or by the Sub-Deputy Collector or other officer invested with the power under section 68 of the Regulation.

Regulation - 134. Mode of service of notice of demand.

A notice of demand under rule 132 shall be served by delivering to the person to whom it is directed a copy thereof attested by the Revenue Officer who issues it, or by delivering such copy at the usual place of abode of such person to some adult male member of his family or, in case it cannot be so served, by pasting such copy upon some conspicuous part of the usual or last known place of abode of such person. In case such notice cannot be served in any of the ways hereinbefore mentioned it shall be served in such way as the officer issuing the notice may direct.

Regulation - 135. Sale proclamation.

The statement and list of estates to be prepared under section 72 (1) and (2) of the Land and Revenue Regulation, in respect of property to be sold under section 70, shall be prepared in the language of the district and may, if the Deputy Commissioner thinks fit be recorded in a book prepared for this purpose, to be called the sale Statement Book. When published in the Gazette, the statement shall also be published in the vernacular of the district and in English.

VIDE FORM NO. 38.

Regulation - 136. Publication of list of estates.

The list of estates referred to in the foregoing rule shall be published

(a)      in the Court of the Revenue Officer by whom it has been prepared;

(b)      at the office of the Sub-Deputy Collector in whose circle the estate is situated;

(c)      at the office of the Tahsildar or house of the mauzadar within whose tahsil or mauza defaulting estate lies; and

(d)      where Gaonburas are employed, on the signboard of the Gaonbura within whose charge the defaulting estate falls;

(e)      at the offices of the Gaon panchayat and the Anchalik Panchayat.

Regulation - 136A. Serving of sale statement.

The sale statement mentioned in rule 135 shall be served under sub-section (4) of section 72 of the Regulation on the defaulter or, if he can not be found, it shall be pasted on a conspicuous part of the estate.

Regulation - 137. Right of public to inspect statements under section 72 (1).

The original or copies of all statements prepared under section 721 of the Regulation shall subject to such rules for the proper care of those documents and the preservation of order as the Deputy Commissioner may from time to time make, be open daily (holidays excepted), to inspection by the public, free of charge, at the office at which such statements have been prepared for such two hours during office hours as the Deputy Commissioner may from time to time fix.

Regulation - 138. Mode of service of proclamation of sale, annulment, etc.

Proclamations to tenants of defaulters under section 73, and proclamations annulling settlements issued under section 90 of the Land and Revenue Regulation, shall be published in the language of the district in the Court of the Revenue Officer duly empowered to issue the same, and also at the Circle Sub-Deputy Collector's office, the house of the mauzadar, (the offices of the Gaon Panchayat and Anchalik Panchayat), and the village public notice-board or, in the Cachar district, at the police thanas and tahsils, other than thanas and tahsils situated at the headquarters of a district or sub-division, in whose jurisdiction the defaulting estate or the greater part thereof is situated, and copy of the same shall be pasted upon a conspicuous part of the estate itself or, where the estate is small, of the village nearest to the estate.

Regulation - 139. Sale procedure when estates are sold.

When estates are sold in the district of Cachar sales shall, on the day of sale, proceed in regular order mauza by mauza, or pargana as the Commissioner may direct, the estate to be sold bearing the lowest number on the tauzi being put up first, and so no, in regular sequence; the Revenue Officer shall not put up any estate out of its regular order by number except where it may be necessary to do so under section 77 of the Regulation.

Regulation - 140. Notice of re-sale.

No notice of re-sale under section 78 (2) of the Regulation shall be published until the expiration of three clear days after the day the purchaser has defaulted, and if the payment or tender of payment of the arrear on account of which the estate or share was first sold, and of any arrear which may have subsequently become due, shall be made by or on behalf of the proprietor or settlement holder of the estate or share before sunset of the third day, the issue of the notice of re-sale shall be stayed.

Regulation - 141. Purchase of defaulting estates by the State Government.

When a defaulting estate is put up for sale for arrears of Revenue due thereon, if there be no bid, the Revenue Officer conducting the sale may purchase the estate on account of the State Government for one rupee or, if the highest bid be insufficient to cover the arrear due, may purchase the estate on account of State Government at the highest amount of bid.

Regulation - 142. Sale certificate.

The sale certificate referred to in section 85 of the Regulation shall be written on stamped paper of the proper value to be supplied by the purchaser at his own expense.

If the purchaser has failed to supply stamped paper of the proper value, the Deputy Commissioner shall supply it and shall recover the value from the purchaser as an arrear of land-revenue.

VIDE FORM NO. 39

Regulation - 143. Notice of transfers of estates.

All transfers of estates or shares of estates by sale under the provisions of Chapter V of the Regulation shall be notified by the Deputy Commissioner or Sub-Divisional Officer by written proclamation in his own office and at the Circle Sub-Deputy Collector's office, the house of the Mauzadar the offices of the Gaon Panchayat and the Anchalik Panchayat, and the village public notice-board or in the Cachar district, at the police thanas and a tahsils, other than thanas and tahsils situated at the headquarters of the district or sub-division, within whose jurisdiction the estate or a greater portion thereof is situated.

Regulation - 144.

(a)      Mode of delivery of possession of estate to auction purchaser.

The Deputy Commissioner, or other officer duly empowered shall order delivery of possession of any estate, or any share or any particular lands of an estate, sold under the provisions of Chapter V of the Regulation to be made by proclamation to the tenants and other persons on the estate by beat of drum or in such other mode as may be customary and by affixing a copy of the sale certificate in some conspicious place of the estate or the particular lands purchased, or where the estate is small, of the village nearest to the estate.

(b)      In any case in which a whole estate any particular lands of an estate shall have been sold free of incumbrances in accordance with the provisions of section 71 of the Regulation, the purchaser may apply to the Deputy Commissioner (or other officer duly empowered), for actual possession of the property, naming the persons to be evicted and specifying the land from which they are to be evicted. Thereupon the Deputy Commissioner (or other officer), shall notify the persons be evicted and if, after hearing the parties and such further inquiry as he may think necessary; he is satisfied that the land specified gains to the property sold and that the persons to be evicted are protected by any of the provisions and section 71 of the Regulation, he shall order possession to be delivered to the applicant by removing such persons (or any of them), from the land.

Regulation - 145. Application of annulment of sales.

(1)     An application under section 81 of the Regulation may be made to the (1) Board.

Regulation - 146. Demand certificate.

he demand certificate referred to in section 91 (2) of the Regulation shall be in form No. 40.

Regulation - 147. Sales of moveable property where to be held.

Sales of moveable property shall ordinarily be made on the spot, but in the case of any such property the Revenue Officer duly empowered to order sales may direct that the sale be held at any other place, if he has reason for thinking that higher price will thereby be realised.

Regulation - 148. Sales for arrears less than four annas prohibited.

No defaulting estate or immoveable property of a defaulter shall be sold for an arrear which is less then twenty five paise.

Regulation - 149. Annulment of settlement.

The settlement of an estate in which the settlement-holder has a permanent, heritable and transferable right of use and occupancy may be annulled with the sanction of the Commissioner:

Provided that an appeal shall lie to the Board in all cases of such annulment within two months of the date of the Commissioner's order.

Regulation - 150.

(1)     Whenever settlement of an estate in any of the plains districts of Assam is annulled under section 90 of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, a notice will be issued to the defaulter requiring him to vacate the land and remove therefrom any buildings erected or crops planted or sown by him within 15 days. Intimation will at the same time be given to the mandal of the circle of the annulment of the settlement and of the issue of the notice.

(2)     On the expiration of the period of 15 days a peon will be deputed with mandal of the circle and the gaonbura to take possession of the land.

(3)     If, after settlement of any land has been annulled on account of arrears, the defaulter or anyone acting on his behalf refuses to comply with a notice requiring him to vacate the land (he shall be evicted forthwith) and if he obstructs any officer deputed to take possession of the land or re-enters without permission, land from which he has been ejected, the offender will be prosecuted under the appropriate section of the Penal Code.

SECTION II Special Rules for The Recovery of Arrears of Land-Revenue due from Temporarily-Settled Estates included in the Jurisdiction of Mauzas

Regulation - 151. Operation of rules 152 to 158.

Rules 152 to 158 inclusive shall apply the realisation of arrears due on lands the revenue of which is paid through the mauzadar.

Regulation - 152. List of defaulters.

A mauzadar may, after an arrear has fallen due in his mauza, file a defaulters' list in the Court of the Deputy Commissioner or Subdivisional officer:

Provided that no defaulters' list shall be entertained under this rule if it relates to arrears of revenue accruing earlier than in the two revenue years previous to the preceding 30th June.

Regulation - 153. Order to attach property.

On receipt of the defaulters' list, as prescribed in rule 152 the Deputy Commissioner or Sub-Divisional Officer shall issue an order to the Nazir to attach such moveable property of the defaulter as the mauzadar may point out and to send in to the Deputy Commissioner or Sub-Divisional Officer a list of the property attached. At the same time that the Nazir attaches property under this rule, he shall serve a sale notice on the defaulter.

VIDE FORMS NOS. 34A AND 35.

Regulation - 154. Order to sell property.

Should the defaulter, after attachment of moveable property, still fail to pay in the arrear with costs, the Deputy Commissioner or Sub-Divisional Officer shall, on receiving a report to that effect from the mauzadar, issue an order to the Nazir, to sell the property attached if the arrear is not paid before the date fixed for sale.

The mauzadarr's report under this rule shall be stamped with court-fee stamps equivalent to the process fees required by the rules issued under section 155 (b) of the Regulation.

SEE NOTE TO RULE 147 AND ALSO FORM NO. 36

Regulation - 155. Sale of defaulting estates.

If the mauzadar is of opinion that the process provided for in these rules is not sufficient for the recovery of the arrear, he may, if the arrear has accrued in respect of an estate in which the settlement-holder has a permanent heritable and transferable right of use and occupancy, apply to the Deputy Commissioner to order the attachment under section 69 A, or the sale of the estate itself, subject to the provisions of section 74 of the Land and Revenue Regulation:

Provided the arrear has accrued not earlier than in the two revenue years referred to in the provisions to rules 152 and 156 and, where action under section 69 of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation is taken by or at the instance of the mauzadar, the application is made within three months of the termination of the proceedings under section 69.

Regulation - 156. Mauzadars may order attachment of defaulter's moveable property.

Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing rule a mauzadar, who has been invested with the powers of a Deputy Commissioner under Section 69 of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, may order the attachment of the defaulter's moveable property subject to such conditions and restriction as the State Government may direct in this behalf:

Provided that no such order shall be issued in respect of arrears of revenue accruing earlier than in two revenue years previous to the preceding 30th June.

Regulation - 157. Staying of sale on payment of arrears.

If at any time before the property is sold under rule 154 or 155 the defaulter pays the arrears due with the prescribed penalty or fee and costs, the sale will be stayed: provided that the payment is made either to the mauzadar in sufficient time to admit of the fact of the payment being reported to the officer who will conduct the sale before the date fixed for the sale or directly to the officer who will conduct the sale.

Regulation - 158. Sale of moveable property not exceeding Rs. 20 in value.

The Deputy Commissioner may empower any mauzadar who has been invested with the powers of a Deputy Commissioner under Section 69 of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation to sell any moveable property not exceeding Rs. 20 in value attached by him, or under his orders, under rule 156. Such sale shall be held by the mauzadar personally in the village in which the defaulter resides or, if the property can be conveyed there without incurring additional cost, at the nearest hat, in accordance with such directions as the State Government may issue from time to time.

Regulation - 159. Procedure when waste land grantees, settlement-holders paying revenue direct and Mauzadars become defaulters.

When a grantee of a waste land grant of any settlement holder of land not amalgamated with the mauza within which it is situated, and who pays land revenue to the Treasury direct, becomes a defaulter, the Deputy Commissioner or Sub-Divisional Officer shall issue upon him a notice of demand and, if the arrear due is not paid up within the period specified in the notice, shall proceed further against him according to the provision of the Land and Revenue Regulation, as if he were a defaulter.

An attachment order will issue without the previous issue of a demand notice against any mauzadar whose revenue is outstanding on the 1st June.

VIDE FORM NO. 33.

Regulation - 159A.

The rules in this section shall apply to sarbarahkars working on behalf of mauzadars who are minors.

SECTION III Special Rules for the Recovery of Arrears of Land-Revenue Due from Temporarily-Settled Estates Included in the Jurisdiction of Tahsils in the Districts of the Assam Valley Division and Cachar Excluding Karimganj Sub-division (Now a District)

Regulation - 160. Bakifajil statement.

In the Assam Valley the tahsildar shall prepare a bakifajil statement immediately after the 2nd or the last kist prescribed for such estate. In cachar the tahsildar shall prepare a statement immediately after each kist.

VIDE FORM NO. 122.

Regulation - 161. Attachment of moveable property on preparation of bakifajil statement.

On the preparation of the bakifajil statement the Tahsildar shall himself attach, or shall issue an order to the Tahsil nazir for the attachment of, the moveable property of the defaulter. A sale notice shall be served on the defaulter at the same time.

VIDE FORMS NO. 34A AND 35.

Regulation - 162. Order of attachment and sale of moveable property.

Should the defaulter after attachment of moveable property still fail to pay in the arrear with costs, the Tahsildar shall proceed to sell, or cause the sale of, the property attached if the arrear is not paid before the date of sale. If, after the issue of a sale order under this rule and before the date fixed for sale, the arrear with cost is paid the Tahsildar shall see that a certificate to that effect is placed with the record:

Provided that where the value of the property attached does not exceed Rs. 20, the property shall be liable to be sold if the arrears with costs are not paid up immediately upon attachment. In such cases the procedure prescribed in rule 147, Chapter V, part II, shall be followed.

SEE NOTE TO RULE 147 AND ALSO FORM NO. 36.

Regulation - 163. Moveable property not to be sold for an unduly low price.

The Tahsildar shall be responsible that, as far as this in his power, attached property shall not be sold for an unduly low price. He shall take special orders from the Deputy Commissioner in all cases of difficulty, and in the event of the property being sold or for an apparently inadequate sum, he shall report the matter to the Deputy Commissioner who may cancel the sale or pass such other order as the latter thinks fit.

Regulation - 164. Sale of defaulting estates.

If the Tahsildar is of opinion that the process provided for in these rules is not sufficient for the recovery of the arrear he may, if the arrear has accrued in respect of an estate in which the settlement holder has a permanent heritable and transferable right of use and occupancy apply to the Deputy Commissioner to order the sale of the estate itself, subject to the provisions of section 74 of the Land and Revenue Regulation.

Regulation - 165.- Fees on payment of arrears after bakifajil statement has been drawn up.

If a settlement-holder tenders payment of an arrear due from him after it has accrued, payment shall be accepted on payment of the following amounts as penalty or fees, as the case may be, (in cash or) in court-fee stamps, to be affixed to the chalan tendering payment

(a)      If paid before issue of attachment order 50 paise-Penalty under Section 68 (I)

(b)      If paid after issue of attachment order Re. 1.00 Penalty under Section 68 (I)

(c)      If paid after issue of proclamation of sale Re. 1.00- Fee under Section 75, in addition to penalty under Section 6(1):

Provided that, if the arrear does not exceed fifty paise the penalty leviable under clause (a) or clause (b) shall in no case exceeds fifty paise.

Regulation - 166.

The Officer in charge of a tahsil shall have all the powers of a tahsildar.

SECTION – IV Special Rules for the Recovery of Arrears of Land Revenue due from permanently settled Estates

Regulation - 167. Land revenue where to be paid.

The proprietors of permanently settled estates in the Goalpara district shall unless the Commissioner shall otherwise direct, pay land -revenue direct to the Treasury of the sub-division in which their estates are situate. If an estate is situated within more than one tahsil or sub-division, the Deputy Commissioner shall determine to what tahsil or sub-divisional Treasury the revenue shall be payable.

Regulation - 168. Application for sending copies of statement by post.-

(1)     A proprietor desiring to register his name under section 72(5) of the Regulation with a view to having copies of statements prepared under section 72 sent to him by post, shall present to the Deputy Commissioner or Sub-Divisional Officer an application with a stamp of the value of Rs. 2.00 (as a registration fee).

(2)     If the application is admitted, the name of the applicant shall be entered in the register and a copy of the entry shall, if he then desires it, be given to him free of charge.

(3)     Every such registration shall hold good for five years from the date on which it is made and shall then become void.

VIDE FORMS NOS. 43 AND 44.

Regulation – 169.

If payment of an arrear is tendered by, a defaulter after it has accrued, payment shall be accepted on payment of the following fees in each or in court fee stamps to be affixed to the chalan tendering payment

(a)      If paid before issue of proclamation of sale of defaulting estate under Section 72, Rs.1.00 - Penalty under Section 68 (1).

(b)      If paid after issue of Proclamation of sale of defaulting estate under Section 72, Rs. 2.00 - Fee under Section 75, in addition to the penalty under Section 68(1).

SECTION-V Special Rules for Recovery of Arrears of Land Revenue in Karimganj sub-division of Cachar District

Regulation - 170.

The following rules are substituted in the Karimganj Sub-division of Cachar District only for rules 130, 135, 136, 137, 138, 148, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166 and 167 of the rules made under Chapter V of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation:

(1)     Land Revenue when to be paid.- Every sum payable on account of land revenue shall fall due on the dates specified in Appendix I and shall be payable in such manner and in such installments as therein prescribed before sunset of the due dates.

When land-revenue falls due on a Sunday or authorized holiday the first open day after such Sunday or holiday shall be taken as the date on which the revenue fell due.

(2)     Sale proclamation.- The statement to be prepared under section 72 (1) of the Land and Revenue Regulation in respect of property to be sold under section 70, shall be prepared in the language of the district, and may if the Deputy Commissioner thinks fit, be bound in a book to be called the Sale Statement Book.

VIDE FORM NO. 37A.

(3)     Publication of sale statement.- The Tahsildar will post a carbon copy of the sale statement after striking out the estates (if any), which are not to be sold and not therefore to be advertised for sale, in a glazed frame prepared and kept for the purpose at the Sub-Divisional office. The Officer posting the copy in tile glazed frame will certify on it that he has done so on a date named, and sign and date the certificate.

If the tahsil is not situated at the headquarters of the subdivision, he will post a copy of his tahsil where the revenue of the estates is paid and send a certificate of posting to the officer ordering the sale. He will at the same time forward a copy to be posted at headquarters and it will be the duty of the head quarters Tahsildar to see that a copy is properly posted at head quarters. When anyone of the estates advertised for sale is not situated within the jurisdiction of the thana at the headquarters of the sub-division, the person entrusted with the service of the sale notice will go to thanadar, hand over to him a carbon copy of the sale statement used as list of estates advertised for sale and get his certificate. The officer in charge of the thana, on receipt of the copy will paste on his notice-board. A copy of the sale statement. made by means of carbon paper for use as list of estates advertised for sale, must be posted at the Sub-Divisional Office, at the tahsil and at the thana, thirty days before the date of sale.

If the Tahsildar finds that he cannot readily determine the thana or the Thanas within the jurisdiction of which the estate is situated a copy of the sale statement used as list under section 72(2) of the Regulation will be published at whatever thana he deems most suitable for the purpose of publication.

VIDE FORMS NOS. 37A AND 37B

(4)     Right of public to inspect sale statements.- The originals or copies of all statements prepared under section 72(1) of the Regulation ordinarily be open daily (holiday excepted), for inspection by the public, free of charge, at the Tahsil office, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The inspection will be made in the presence of the Tahsildar or his assistant. No one will be allowed to remove the statements from the place where they are kept, or in any way to alter or erase any part of them or record anything on them. Persons requiring information may take notes or copies in pencil.

(5)     Mode of service of sale notice.- Simultaneously with the posting of copies of the sale statement used as list of estates advertised for sale, under section 72(2) of the Regulation the Tahsildarwill (where necessary), make copies of those entries in the sale statement of which a copy is required to be despatched by post to such proprietors as have registered their names for the purpose under section 72 (5) of the Regulation. In the case of defaulting estate not being a permanently settled estate, the Tahsildar will make two copies of the entry by means of carbon paper, one copy to be made over to the defaulter, or if he cannot be found, pasted on a conspicuous part of the estate under section 72(4) of the Regulation, and the other copy for the defaulter's receipt or certificate of service to be recorded and filed with the sale record. This certificate shall be attested by at least two witnesses.

VIDE FORM NO. 37 A.

(6)     Publication of notices issued to tenants of defaulters and proclamation annulling settlement.- Notices to tenants of defaulter under section 73 of the Regulation will be published only for estates paying more than Rs. 50.00. These notices and proclamations annulling settlements issued under section 90 of the Regulation will be published in the language of the District in the Court of the Revenue Officer duly empowered to issue the same, and also at the police Thanas and Tahsils, other than the Thana and Tahsils situated at the headquarters of the subdivision, in the jurisdiction of which the defaulting estate or the greater part thereof same will be pasted on a conspicous part is situated and a part of the estate itself or, where the estate is small, of the village nearest to the estate. In the case of a temporarily-settled estate, arrangement should be made to issue the notice under section 73 along with the notice under section 72(4), only one set of process fees being charged for both the notices. Each set of notice under section 73 will be prepared in duplicate by means of carbon paper for each estate, one copy being posted as stated above, and on the other the certificate of posting should be recorded and filed in the office to form part of the sale record in the same way as certificates are to be entered in the case of the service of notices under section 72(4) on defaulters. If the revenue of any estates falls below RS. 50.00 by the opening of separate accounts, no such notice need be issued.

VIDE FORM NO. III.

(7)     Attachment and sale of moveable property.(i) After an arrear has accrued in respect of a temporarily-settled estate which is not liable to sale under section 70 of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation at the first instance for arrears of revenue, the Tahsildar will issue an order to the nazir to attach such moveable property of the defaulter as may be pointed out to him, and to sent to the Tahsildar a list of the property attached. At Tahsils where there is no nazir, the Tahsildar will himself attach such moveable property of the defaulter as may be pointed out to him. At the same time that the nazir or Tahsildar (when there is no nazir), attaches the property under this rule, he will serve a sale notice on the defaulter.

(ii) Should the defaulter after attachment of moveable property still fail to pay in the arrear with cost, the Tahsildar will issue an order to the nazir for the sale of moveable property of the defaulter or, where there is no nazir, will himself proceed to sell the property attached, if the arrear is not paid before the date of sale. If after the issue of a sale order under this rule and before the date fixed for sale the arrear is paid, the Tahsildar will see that a certificate to that effect is placed with the record.

(iii) The Tahsildar will be responsible that as far as lies in his power attached property is not sold for an unduly low price. He will take special orders from the Sub-Divisional Officer in all cases of difficulty and in the event of the property being sold or an apparently inadequate sum, he will report the matter to the Sub-Divisional Officer who may cancel the sale or pass such other orders as he thinks fit.

(iv) If the Tahsildar is of opinion that the process provided for in these rules is not sufficient for the recovery of the arrear, he may, if the arrear accrued in respect of an estate in which the settelement holder has a permanent, heritable and transferable right of use and occupancy apply to the Deputy Commissioner to order the attachment, and if necessary the sale of the estate itself, subject to the provisions of section 74 of the Land and Revenue Regulation. No defaulting estate or immoveable property of a defaulter shall be sold for an arrear which is less than twenty-five paise.

VIDE FORMS NOS. 34, 35 and 36.

(8)     Fees on payment of arrears after defaulters list has been drawn up.- If the settlement-holder of a temporarily settled estate tenders payment of an arrear due from him after it has accured payment shall be accepted on payment of the following fees (in cash or) in court-fee stamps to be affixed to the chalan tendering payment

(a)      If paid before issue of process for recovery of the arrear, 50 paise penalty under Section 68 (I);

(b)      If paid after issue of process for recovery of the arrear, RS. 1 Penalty under Section 68 (I);

(c)      If paid after issue of sale proclamation, RS. 1 fee under Section 75, in addition to the penalty under Section 68(1) :

Provided that, if the arrear does not exceed fifty paise the penalty leviable under clause (a) or clause (b) shall in no case exceed fifty paise.

(9)     Payment of land revenue to the Tahsildar.- The proprietors of permanently-settled estates and the settlement-holders of temporarily -settled estates shall pay land-revenue to the Tahsildar of the tahsil within whose jurisdiction their estates are situated. If an estate is situated within more than one tahsil, the Deputy Commissioner shall determine to which tahsil the revenue shall be payable:

Provided that, if the revenue of any estate is not paid to a Tahsildar in sufficient time to admit of the fact of payment being reported to an officer proposing to sell such estate on account of the non-payment of such revenue before the day fixed for the sale, payment must be made to the office holding the sale or any person authorised to receive such revenue on his behalf.

(10)   Erection of notice boards.- (i) The Deputy Commissioner will cause to be erected a sufficient number of notice-boards in convenient situations throughout the portions of the district which are permanently-settled. Every such board will have a number painted on it, by which it will be known, and the Deputy Commissioner will cause to be prepared lists of the notice-boards situated in the sub-division, indicating approximately the situation of the same.

The notice-boards will ordinarily be arranged parganawari, all the estates of one pargana will be pasted on one or more notice-boards in that pargana as may be thought necessery. The estates of two parganas will not ordinarily be pasted on one notice-board.

(ii) The Deputy Commissioner, with the previous sanction of the Commissioner, may from time to time, alter the number and situation of notice-boards, but no such alteration will be made until two months' notice of the same has been given by a proclamation posted at the Sub-Divisional Office, and on each notice-board affected thereby.

(iii) The original or a copy of every list of notice-boards prepared and for the time being in force will be open to inspection by the public free of charge in the same manner as the sale statement referred to in sub-rule (4) of this rule.

CHAPTER VI Rules under Sections 114, 121 and 155, Relating to the Partition and Union of Estates

Regulation - 171. Application to be verified and signed.

Applications for partition (perfect and imperfect) shall be made and shall be verified and signed by the applicant or by an agent duly authorised by him in, that behalf.

VIDE FORM NO. 45

Regulation - 172. Fees payable for notice.

The fees or other cost in respect of service of notices or publication of proclamations under section 99 or 116 of the Land and Revenue Regulation shall be paid either with the application or within such time as may be allowed by the Deputy Commissioner or Sub-Divisional Officer, failing which the application will be rejected.

VIDE FORM NO. 46.

Regulation - 173. Estimates of cost of partition.

As soon as possible after the issue of an order under section 102 directing, the partition to be made, the Revenue Officer authorised to make partition will prepare an estimate of cost and submit it to the Deputy Commissioner for approval.

VIDE FORM NO. 47

Regulation - 174. Costs by whom and when paid.

The estimated cost of survey and partition shall be paid by the applicant and other sharers in proportion to their respective shares within the period allowed, which shall not be less than 30 days or more than 60 days from the date of the approval of the estimate by the Deputy Commissioner.

VIDE COLUMNS 9 AND 10 OF FORM NO. 47

Regulation - 175. Realisation of unpaid costs.

If the applicant pays his share of costs but the other sharers do not pay, the Revenue Officer authorised to make the partition shall, under section 144 of the Regulation, realise the cost rateably from the defaulters under section 69.

Regulation - 176. Recovery of costs in excess of estimates.

Should the actual, cost of survey and partition finally exceed the cost paid under the preceding rule, the extra cost shall be realised rate ably from the applicant and other proprietors or land-holders of the estate, and until such costs shall have been realised, no final order of partition shall be passed.

Regulation - 177. Refund of excess payments.

Any excess cost deposited by the parties shall be refunded to them by the Revenue Officer authorised to make the partition, provided that application thereof is made within one year from the final confirmation of the partition, after which the amount will lapse to the State Government.

Regulation - 178. Limit placed on cost of partition.

The cost of survey and partition shall ordinarily not exceed the following rates

(a)      If the area of the estate to be partitioned does not exceed 200 acres, at Rs. 60 per 100 acres with a minimum of Rs. 2;

(b)      If it exceeds 200 acres, but does not exceed 400 acres, the first 200 acres at Rs. 60 and the remainder at Rs. 50 per 100 acres;

(c)      If it exceeds 400 acres, but does not exceed 600 acres, 200 acres at Rs.60, 200 acres at Rs. 50 and the remainder at Rs. 40 per 100 acres;

(d)      If it exceeds 600 acres, 200 acres at Rs 60, 200 acres at Rs. 50, 200 acres at Rs. 40, and the remainder at Rs. 25 per 100 acres.

Regulation - 178A. Final order is Instrument of Partition Chargeable with stamp duty.

The final order sanctioning the partition an Instrument of Partition and is chargeable with stamp duty under Article 45, Schedule I to the Indian Stamp Act, 1899. The order shall be duly stamped before proclamation under section 116 of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation issues.

Regulation - 179. Application for union.

The application for union of estates may be presented by the applicant or by any person duly authorised by him in writing in that behalf.

VIDE FORM NO. 48

Regulation - 180. Registers.

The following registers shall be kept in the office of every Deputy Commissioner and Sub-Divisional Officer-

(1)     Register of applications for Perfect Partitions of Estates.

(2)     Register of applications for Imperfect Partitions of Estates.

(3)     Register of Union Estates.

VIDE FORM NOS. 49, 50 AND 51.

CHAPTER VII Rules under Sections 129, 152 and 155(b) and (c) relating to Procedure the Mode of Serving Processes and Process-Fees

Regulation - 181. Judicial procedure in revenue cases.

No provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, and of enactments amending the same relating to the trial of suits, the evidence and examination of witnesses, procuring the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents, shall apply to all proceedings of a judicial nature, other than appeals, held before a Deputy Commissioner or other Revenue Officer or a Settlement Officer duly empowered to hold such proceedings.

For the purposes of this rule, the following proceedings under the Land and Revenue Regulation shall be regarded as proceedings of a Judicial nature

(a)      Proceedings in connection with boundary disputes (section 23);

(b)      Proceedings in connection with disputes relating to the record-of-rights (sections 41 and 42);

(c)      Resumption of proceedings (section 43);

(d)      Proceedings in connection with application for mutation and registration of names (sections 53 and 54);

(e)      Proceedings in connection With applications for registration of talukdari and other similar tenures (section 56);

(f)       Proceedings in connection with applications for separate accounts (section 65);

(g)      Proceedings arising out of the, attachment or sale of moveable or immoveable property, or of applications to set aside sale under Chapter V;

(h)     Proceedings in connection with the partition or union of estates under Chapter VI;

(i)       Any other proceedings expressly declared by rules issued under the provisions of the Land and Revenue Regulation to be judicial proceedings.

Regulation - 182. Award of costs.

In all judicial proceedings held under the Regulation, the Court may award such costs as it thinks fit and may determine by whom they are to be paid and where there are several persons liable, the amount to be paid by each.

Regulation - 183. Executive procedure.

In proceedings other than those mentioned in rule 181 witnesses shall not be examined on oath and a memorandum only of their evidence shall be written and recorded. Such memorandum shall be written and signed by the Revenue Officer who examines the witnesses, and may be written in the language of the Court or in English, if the Revenue Officer is sufficiently acquainted with English.

Regulation - 184. Power of Deputy Commissioner and Sub-Divisional Officer to distribute work.

A Deputy Commissioner or Sub-Divisional Officer shall not, under section 129 of the Land and Revenue Regulation, refer any case for investigation or report to a Revenue Officer of lower rank than a Tahsildar, mauzadar or Sub-Deputy Collector nor shall he direct any Revenue Officer below such rank to deal with, and to investigate and report on, any case or class of cases without reference.

Regulation - 185. Appeal procedure and register.

No appeal petition shall be entertained that is not properly stamped or accompanied by a certified copy of the order appealed against.

A Register of appeals shall be kept in every Revenue Appellate Court.

VIDE FORM NO. 52.

Regulation - 186. Mode of service of Processes.

Except where otherwise directed by the Land and Revenue Regulation or by Rules issued thereunder, the provisions of the Civil Procedure Code and of enactments amending the same shall apply to the issue, service, and return of processes on parties and witnesses in any revenue case, appeal or investigation pending before a Revenue Officer or a Settlement Officer.

Regulation - 187. Fees on Judicial processes.

Fees on processes which are issued by Revenue Officers or Settlement Officers in cases under the Tenancy Acts and in cases of a judicial nature as defined in rule 181, shall be charged for in accordance with the rules framed by the High Court of (Assam and Nagaland) under clause (i), section 20, of the Court-fees Act, VII of 1870, and confirmed by the State Government.

Vide Part V, Chapter 26 of the High Court's Civil Rules and Orders, 1935, Volume I.

Regulation - 188. Fees on Executive Processes.

The following rules relate to fees chargeable on executive processes

(a)      Except where otherwise directed in any rule issued under the Land and Revenue Regulation, fees on executive processes shall be charged at the uniform rate of one rupee on every warrant, and at the same rate on every summons notice, proclamation or order issued:

Provided that, when processes of anyone kind other than warrants are to be served or executed in the same case and at the same time on more persons than one, the fee leviable shall be twenty five paise for each such person subject to a minimum of one rupee and a maximum of Rs. 2.50 paise for all processes. No fee shall be charged on notices inviting claimants to property pledged as security by mauzadars.

(b)      An order calling upon a mauzadar or Tahsildar for report, or informing them of orders passed in any case by a Revenue Officer, is not a process within the meaning of this rule, and no fee shall be charged on such orders;

(c)      In the Sub-division of Karimganj (now a district) where during the rainy season travelling except by boat is impracticable, the State Government shall defray all charges on account of boat hire or ferry toll, where such toll, is legally eligible but in consideration of this, the fees leviable under these rules shall be increased by 50 per cent from the 1st June to the 30th November. The Commissioner may extend this rule to any local area in his jurisdiction;

(d)      Postal charges, when the process has to be sent by post, shall be defrayed by the State Government;

(e)      If a peon is detained at the place of service for more than 24 hours at the request of the person at whose instance the process was issued, or of his agent such person or agent must pay demurrage at thirty one paise a day, and in the district of Lakhimpur and Sibsagar at thirty seven paise a day;

(f)       Processes issued by, or at the instance of a Revenue Officer other than a mauzadar acting in his official capacity, shall be served in the first instance free of charge, but the fees chargeable under this rules shall be levied from the parties to the case, according as the Revenue Officer disposing of the case may determine. The fees so recovered shall be attached in court-fee stamps to the Nazir's report of recovery of the fees:

Provided in special cases processes may be issued at the instance of a mauzadar without pre-payment of process-fees.

(g)      In respect of each peon necessary to ensure safe custody of attached property when he is left actually in charge, a daily fee of thirty one paise and in the districts of Lakhimpur and Sibsagar a daily fee of thirty seven paise shall be charged;

(h)     In cases where a demurrage fee, or a fee for the safe custody of property, is leviable under clause (e) or (g) of this rule the additional fee which may become payable after process has issued shall be paid by filing a written requisition to the Revenue Officer who issued the process to receive the fee, which document shall bear on its face stamps equivalent to the additional fee, with a memorandum of the purpose for which it is paid;

(i)       Applications for refund of process-fees paid under these rules shall not be entertained unless preferred within one year of the date on which the fees were paid;

(j)       All fees for executive processes shall be prepaid in stamps, whenever possible to be affixed to the application for issue of process. Where postponement is unavoidable, and the fees are paid in stamps, the Nazir shall affix the stamps to his report; if paid in cash, the Nazir on receipt of the amount shall buy the necessary stamps and affix them to the report. In all cases the stamps shall be punched in the presence of, or by, a Revenue Officer :

Provided that in cases in which process Fees are remitted by money-order whether singly or with land-revenue or local rates, the fees should be finally credited to the State Government in Treasury accounts as a receipt under the head "XXI; Administration of Justice-Court-fees realised in cash." The Treasury Officer will note on the money-order coupon the number and the date of the credit ad send it forthwith to the Nazir to make a note of payment of the fees in his process register. On the face of the process a note will similarly be made in red ink showing the payment of the amount of process-fees and the number and date of the Treasury voucher.

CHAPTER VIII Rules Framed Under Section 155(f) Regulating the Entry by mining Licensees on settled Land

Regulation - 189. Conditions of a prospecting license.

Where the surface of any land covered by a prospecting license or a petroleum exploration License is in the occupation of any person other than the licensee

(i)       the licensee shall not enter upon such land except with the consent of the occupier or, in the absence of such consent, without the written authority of the Deputy Commissioner;

(ii)      the license shall not in any way injure any trees, standing crops, buildings, huts, or other property of the occupier of any structures land or other person except with the consent of such occupier or person or in the case of his refusal, without the written authority of the Deputy Commissioner;

(iii)     the Deputy Commissioner shall not grant authority under clause (i) or under clause (ii) unless he is satisfied that the rights conferred by the license, cannot be exercised except by the grant of such authority;

(iiia) on receipt of an application or authority to enter upon any land or to injure any property, under clauses (i) and (ii) the Deputy Commissioner shall immediately publish at his office and on the land concerned a notice that such authority has been applied for;

(iv)    the Deputy Commissioner may assess or cause to be assessed any damage or injury which may be done by the licensee to the property of the occupier of the land or of any other person and may pay the amount so assessed to such occupier or other person out of the deposit made by the licensee.

In assessing any damages or injury under this clause the assessor may leave out of account the value of any buildings erected or improvements made by the occupier of the land after he has granted consent under clause (i) or (ii), or, in the absence of such consent, after the date of the publication of the notice required by clause (iiia).

Regulation - 190. Conditions of a mining lease.

Where the surface of any land covered by a mining lease is in the occupation of any person other than the lessee

(i)       the lessee shall have the liberty and power to enter upon such lands in the exercise of the rights granted by the lease: provided that without the consent of the occupier and in the absence of such consent without the written authority of the Deputy Commissioner, he shall not enter into any building or structure, or into any enclosed yard or garden;

(ii)      no surface operations shall be carried on in or upon the site of any dwelling house or in such a manner as to injure any buildings structures, property or rights of other persons without their consent or, in the absence of such consent without the written authority of the Deputy Commissioner;

(iii)     the Deputy Commissioner shall not grant authority under clause (i) or (ii) unless he is satisfied that the right conferred by the lease cannot be exercised except by the grant of such authority ;

(iiia) on receipt of an application for authority to enter upon any land or to injure any property under clause (i) and (ii), the Deputy Commissioner shall immediately publish at his office and on the land concerned a notice that such authority has been applied for;

(iv)    no land which is in the occupation of any person other than the lessee shall be used for surface operations if any other land not so occupied is suitable and available for surface operations;

(v)      the lessee shall not without the express sanction of the Deputy Commissioner cut down or injure any timber or trees on such land, but may without such sanction clear away any brushwood or undergrowth which interferes with the exercise of the rights granted by the lease;

(vi)    the Deputy Commissioner may assess or cause to be assessed any damage or injury which may be done by the lessee to the property of the occupier of such land or of any other person and may order the amount so assessed to be paid by the lessee.

In assessing any damage or injury under this clause the assessor may leave out of account the value of any buildings erected or improvements made by the occupier of the land after he has granted consent under clause (i) or (ii), or, in the absence of such consent, after the date of the publication of the notice required by clause (iiia).

CHAPTER IX Rules Framed under Section 171 of Chapter X of The Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886 for Disposal of Land within the Tribal Belts or Blocks

(1)     The disposal of land within the Tribal belts or blocks constituted under the provisions of section 161 of the regulation shall be made in accordance with the provisions of these rules. Settlement of waste land shall be made duly with the classes of people, notified under section 160(2) arid specified in section 163(2) of the Regulation.

All powers of the Deputy Commissioner under these rules shall be exercised subject to any general or special orders issued from time to time by the State Government.

(2)     In these rules-

An annual lease means a lease granted for one year only and confers no right in the soil beyond a right of user for the year for which it is given. It confers no right of inheritance beyond the year of issue. It confers no fight of transfer or sub-letting and shall be liable to cancellation for any transfer or sub-letting even during the year of issue: Provided that the State Government may waive their right to cancel an annual lease and may allow its renewal till such time as the State, Government may direct in those cases in which the land is mortgaged to Government or to a State sponsored Co-operative Society.

A periodic lease, except in the case of town land, means a lease granted for a period longer than one year, and in the case of town land, a lease for a period longer than three years. Subject to and so far as is consistant with any restrictions, conditions and limitations contained therein, a periodic lease, the term of which is not less than ten years conveys to the lessee the rights of landholder as defined in the Assam land and Revenue Regulation.

Person entitled, means persons notified under section 160 (2) Waste land means land at the disposal of the Government which the Government has not disposed of by lease, grant or otherwise, and which is not included in a forest reserve, or in a forest proposed to he reserved under section 5 of the Assam Forest Regulation, VII of 1891, or in a protected forest constituted under the rules made under the said Regulation, and has not been allotted as a grazing ground under rules framed under section 13 of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation.

(3)     Settlement of land under these rules will be only on written application to be made to the Deputy Commissioner, or the Officer empowered in this behalf under section 168 of the Regulation, or any officer specially authorised by the Deputy Commissioner to entertain applications on his behalf.

(4)     On receipt of the application the Deputy Commissioner or an officer deputed by him or the officer empowered in his behalf will enquire into the availability of the land and the claims of the persons entitled to obtain settlement.

(5)     (1) In making settlement of land the Provisions of Section 163(2) shall be strictly followed and settlement shall be made for each class of people in compact blocks as far as possible. Where compact blocks of 50 bighas or more are available settlement shall be made ordinarily with registered Co-operative Societies formed by actual landless cultivators belonging to the classes of persons notified under Section 160 (2) or mentioned in Section 163 (2).

(2) When settlement has to be given to individuals, the area shall ordinalily be limited to 8 bighas to 12 bighas per family according to the fertility of the soil. In giving to individuals, preference shall be given in the following order:

(a)      Settlement holders belonging to classes of persons notified under section 160 (2) or mentioned in section 163 (2) who have been rendered landless due to flood, erosion or earthquake or due requisition or acquisition of their lands by Government for public purposes;

(b)      Landless cultivators belonging to classes of persons notified under Section 160 (2) or mentioned in Section 163 (2);

(c)      Cultivator of the classes mentioned above having landless than 8 bighas.

(6)     All settlement shall in the first instance be on annual lease; the land should be cleared and brought under cultivation except such areas as are required for growing thatch and sun-grass for bonafide use of the family or for the grazing of cattle. No annual lease shall be renewed unless this condition is complied with: Provided that the Deputy Commissioner may exempt from the operation of this rule cases in which he is satisfied that the failure on the part of the settlement holder is due to circumstances beyond his control.

(7)     Land settled on annual lease may be converted into periodic lease when the conditions prescribed in rule 105 of the Land Records Manual are fulfilled, and the requisite premium, if any fixed by the State Government has been paid.

(8)     No, land held under annual lease shall be transferred or sublet. If any such land in transferred or sublet in contravention of this rule the settlement shall forthwith be terminated: Provided that if the settlement holder dies during the currency of the lease the heirs of the deceased will inherit for the remainder of the term: Provided further that the State Government may waive their right to cancel an annual lease and may allow its renewal till such time as the State Government may direct in those cases in which the land is mortgaged to Government or to a State-sponsored Co-operative Society.

(9)     Except in the case of estates mentioned in section 162 (3), lands held under periodic lease may be transferred subject to the following condition

A land holder may 'transfer or sublet his holding or any part of it within the belts or blocks only to persons belonging to the class of people notified under section 160 (2) or those mentioned in Section 163 (2) (i) (b) and (c), or mortgage the whole or a part of his holding within such belt or block to Government or to a State-sponsored Co-operative Society funtioning within such belt or block. If any transfer is made in contravention of this rule the lease shall be cancelled forthwith with the approval of Government and the land holder will forfeit his right and status in respect of the land so transferred.

(10)   If any person is found in occupation of any annual land otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of these rules he will be liable to eviction forthwith.

If any person other than a person belonging to the classes of persons notified under section 160 (2) or mentioned in section 163 (2) (a) (b) and (c) is found in occupation of any waste land he will be evicted forthwith.

In the case mentioned above the Deputy Commissioner or Officer empowered in this behalf will make a summary enquiry and if he is satisfied that the occupation is unauthorised he will proceed to evict the encroacher forthwith and any structure or crops found on the land will be liable to folfeiture to Government.

(11)   If any person belonging to the classes of people notified under section 160(2) or mentioned in section 163(2) (a), (b), and (c) is found in occupation of any waste land otherwise than in accordance with these rules he shall be evicted: Provided that the Deputy Commissioner or Officer empowered in this behalf may after satisfying himself as to the eligibility of the claim, the bonafide of the ocupant and availability of the land, offer settlement of the land in accordance with these rules after realising the back revenue to be assessed from the date of occupation. When evicting a person under this rule the Deputy Commissioner will serve a notice requiring the encroacher to vacate the land within a specified time, and he may, in his discretion, allow or disallow him to remove the structure and harvest the crops within the time so specified.

(12)   If any person is found in occupation of any land held under a periodic lease otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of these rules he shall be evicted therefrom. For the purpose of eviction the Deputy Commissioner will serve a notice requiring the occupant to vacate the land and to remove all structures or crops standing thereon within such period not exceeding one month as he may think fit. Such notice will be served on one or all of the occupants or if the occupants cannot be found it will be sufficient for the purpose of this rule if the notice is served by hanging at the last place of residence and pasted on the Gaonbura's notice Board and on the land in question.

If the occupant fails to vacate the land or remove the structure or crops as required in the notice the Deputy Commissioner may forcibly enter into and take possession of the land and destroy the structures or crops found thereon. - Any disobedience of orders will be dealt with under section 188, Indian Penal Code.

(13)   All other matters which are not covered by the above rules will be governed by the relevant rules under the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation.