West Bengal Act 10 of 1956
EDITION 2019
Affected Sections after Amendments of West Bengal Land Reforms Act 1955 after 14.3.2001 [PDF]
30 March 1956
An Act to reform the law relating to land tenure consequent on the vesting of all estates and of certain rights therein and also to consolidate the law relating to land reforms in the State
It is hereby enacted in the Sixth Year of the Republic of India, by the Legislature of West Bengal, as follows :
CHAPTER 1
Preliminary
1-Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the West Bengal Land Reforms Act, 1955.
(2) It extends to the whole of West Bengal [except the area described in Schedule 1 of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation Act, 1980 (West Bengal Act LIX of 1980) but not excepting the area included in the said Schedule, which, immediately before the coming into force of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Act, 1983 (West Bengal Act 32 of 1983) was comprised in the Municipality of Jadavpur, South Suburban r Garden Reach]:
Provided that the State Government may, from time to time by notification in the Official Gazette, extend and bring into force the provisions of the Act, in whole or in part, to such part or parts of [the area described in Schedule I of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation Act, 1980 (West Bengal Act LIX of 1980)] with effect from such date or Cates as may be specified in the notification.
(3) This section shall come into force at once and the remaining provisions of this Act, in whole or in part, shall come into force on such date or dates and in such district or part of a district as the State Government may from time to time by notification in the Official Gazette specify.
1A. Declaration as to the policy of the State.—It is hereby declared that this Act is for giving effect to the policy of the State towards securing the principles specified in clauses (b) and (c) of Article 39 of the Constitution of India.
2-Definitions.—In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,—
(1) “agricultural year” means the Bengali year commencing on the first day of Baisakh;
(2) “bargadar” means a person who under the system generally known as adhi, barga or bhag cultivates the land of another person on condition of delivering a share of the produce of such land to that person; and includes a person who under the system generally known as kisani [or by any other description] cultivates the land of another person on condition of receiving a share of the produce of such land from that person;
but does not include a person who is related to the owner of the land as-
(a) wife, or
(b) husband, or
(c) child, or
(d) grandchild, or
(e) parent, or (t) grandparent, or
(g) brother, or
(h) sister, or
(i) brother’s son or brother’s daughter, or
(j) sister’s son or sister’s daughter, or
(k) daughter’s husband, or (/) son’s wife, or
(m) wife’s brother or wife’s sister, or [(ma) husband’s brother, or]
(n) brother’s wife,], and
[Explanation.—A bargadar shall continue to be a bargadar until cultivation by him is lawfully terminated under this Act;]
(3) “certificate” means a certificate signed under the Bengal Public Demands Recovery Act, 1913 (Bengal Act No. 3 of 1913);
(4) “Collector” means the Collector of a district or any other officer appointed by the State Government to discharge any of the functions of a Collector under this Act;
(5) “consolidation” includes re-alignment of a plot of land or rearrangement of parcels of land comprised in different plots of land for the purpose of rendering such plots of land more compact;
(6) “co-sharer of a raiyat in a plot of land” means a person, other than the raiyat, who has an undemarcated interest in the plot of land along with the raiyat
(6A) “encumbrance” means any lien, easement or other right or interest created by a raiyat on his [plot of land] or in limitation of his own interest therein, but does not include the right of the bargadar to cultivate the land of the [plot of land];
[(7) “land” means land of every description and includes tank, tank-fishery, fishery, homestead, or land used for the purpose of livestock breeding, poultry farming, dairy or land comprised in tea garden, mill, factory, workshop, orchard, hat, bazar, ferries, tolls or land having any other sairati interests and any other land together with all interests, and benefits arising out of land and things attached to the earth or permanently fastened to anything attached to earth;]
Explanation.—“Homestead” shall have the same meaning as in the West Bengal Estates Acquisition Act, 1953 (West Bengal Act No. 1 of 1954);
(8) “Personal cultivation” means cultivation by a person of his own land on his own account—
(a) by his own labour, or
(b) by the labour of any member of his family, or
(c) by servants or labourers on wages payable in cash or in kind not being as a share of the produce or both:
[Provided that such person or member of his family resides for the greater part of the year in the locality where the land is situated and the principal source of his income is [produce of,] such land.
Explanation.—The term “family” shall have the same meaning as in clause (c) of Section 14K.];
(9) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made by the State Government under this Act;
(9A) “prescribed authority” means an authority appointed by the State Government by notification in the Official Gazette, for all or any of the purposes of this Act;
[(10) “raiyat” means a person or an institution holding land for any purpose whatsoever;]
(11) [ xxx ]
(12) “Revenue Officer” means any officer whom the State Government may appoint by name or by virtue of his office to discharge any of the functions of a Revenue Officer in any area;
[(13) “Scheduled Tribe” shall have the same meaning as in clause (25) of Article 366 of the Constitution of India.]
3. Act to override other laws.—The provisions of. this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith in any other law for the time being in force or in any custom or usage or contract, express or implied, or agreement or decree or order or decision or award of a court, tribunal or other authority.
3A. Rights of non-agricultural tenants and under-tenants in non-agricultural land to vest in the State.—(1) The rights and interests of all non-agricultural tenants and under-tenants under the West Bengal Non-Agricultural Tenancy Act, 1949 (West Bengal Act No. 20 of 1949) shall vest in the State free from all encumbrances, and the provisions of sections 5 and 5A of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition Act, 1953 (West Bengal Act No. 1 of 1954) shall apply, with such modifications as may be necessary, mutatis mutandis to all such non-agricultural tenants and under-tenants as if such non-agricultural tenants and under-tenants were intermediaries and the land held by them were estates and a person holding under a non-agricultural tenant or under-tenant were a raiyat.
Explanation.—Nothing in sections 5 and 5A of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition Act, 1953 shall be construed to affect in any way the vesting of the rights and interests of a non-agricultural tenant or under-tenant under the West Bengal Non-Agricultural Tenancy Act, 1949 in the State under sub-section (1) of this section.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), a non-agricultural tenant or under-tenant under the West Bengal Non-Agricultural Tenancy Act, 1949, holding in his khas possession any land to which the provisions of sub-section (1) apply, shall, subject to the other provisions of this Act, be entitled to retain as araiyat the said land which together with other lands, if any, held by him shall not exceed the ceiling area under section 14M.
(3) Every intermediary,—
(a) whose land held in his khas possession has vested in the State under sub-section (1), or
(b) whose estates or interests, other than land held in his khas possession, have vested in the State under sub-section (1), shall be entitled to receive an amount to be determined in accordance with the provisions of section 14V.
[(4) The provision of this section shall not apply to any land to which the provisions of the West Bengal thika Tenancy (Acquisition and Regulation) Act, 2001 (West Bengal Act 32 of 2001), apply.]
(5) This section shall be deemed to have come into force on and from the 9th day of September, 1980.]
CHAPTER II
Raiyats
4-Rights of raiyatin respect of land.—(1) Subject to the other provisions of this Act, a raiyatshall on and after the commencement of this Act be the owner of his [plot of land] and the [plot of land] shall be heritable and transferable.
[Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that any person or institution who holds any plot of land—
(a) under any permit, lease or licence [granted by the State Government shall be deemed to have been substituted with effect from the 7th day of August, 1969] and; or
(b) as a thika tenant defined in clause (14) of section 2 of the West Bengal thika Tenancy (Acquisition and Regulation) Act, 2001; or
(c) under sairati interests or by retaining such plot of land under clause (g) [or under clause (i) shall be deemed to have been inserted with effect from the 7th day of August, 1969] of sub-section (1), read with sub-section (3), of section 6 of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition Act, 1953 (West Bengal Act 1 of 1954), shall not be a raiyat for the purpose of this sub-section].
(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall entitle a raiyat to sub-soil rights.
(2A) No raiyat shall—
(a) quarry sand, or permit any person to quarry sand, from his [plot of land], or
(b) dig or use, or permit any person to dig or use, earth or clay of his [plot of land] for the manufacture of bricks or tiles, for any purpose, other than his own use, except with previous permission, in writing of the State Government and in accordance with such terms and conditions and on payment of such fees as may be prescribed.
(2B) If any raiyat commits a breach of the provisions of sub-section (2A), the prescribed authority may, after giving in the prescribed manner an opportunity to theraiyat to show cause against the action proposed to be taken, impose upon him a fine not exceeding two thousand rupees, and where the breach is a continuing one, a further fine not exceeding two hundred rupees for each day during which the breach continues. Such fine, if not duly paid, shall be recoverable as a public demand.
(2C) An appeal shall lie from any order made under sub-section (2A) in accordance with the provisions of sections 54 and 55.
(3) [Omitted by the West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1971 (President’s Act No. 3 of 1971) and thereafter by the West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1972 (Act No. 12 of 1972) with retrospective effect from February 12, 1971.]
(4) Notwithstanding anything in sub-section (1), the [plot of land] of a raiyat excluding his homestead, [shall vest in the State free from all encumbrances under an order of the prescribed authority made in the prescribed manner] after such enquiry as it thinks fit and after giving the raiyat an opportunity to show cause against the action proposed to be taken if—
(a) he has without any reasonable cause used the land comprised in the [plot of land] or a substantial part thereof for any purpose other than [that for which it was held by him or settled by the State or directly incidental thereto];
(b) he has without any reasonable cause ceased to keep the land or any substantial part thereof under personal cultivation [or has failed to utilise the land consistently with the original purpose of the tenancy or for any purpose directly incidental thereto] for a period of three consecutive years or more except when such land is under usufructuary mortgage mentioned in section 7;
(c) he has without any reasonable cause failed to bring the land comprised in the [plot of land] or any substantial part thereof under personal cultivation [or has failed to utilise the land consistently with the original purpose of the tenancy or for any purpose directly incidental thereto] within three consecutive years of the date on which this Act comes into force or of the date on which he came into possession of such land, whichever is later;
(d) he has let out the whole or any part of the plot of land:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall prevent the raiyat from cultivating any part of his [plot of land] by a bargadar.
Provided further that nothing in this sub-section shall prevent the raiyat from leasing out the whole or any part of his plot of land for the purpose of establishing an industrial park or industrial hub or industrial estate or financial hub or a biotech park or a food park as per project report duly examined, vetted and approved by the appropriate Department of the State Government:
Provided also that nothing in this sub-section shall prevent any local authority or an authority constituted or established by or under any law for the time being in force or any wholly Government Company as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), from leasing out the whole or any part of his plot of land in a township as defined in clause (25) of section 2 of the West Bengal Town and Country (Planning and Development) Act, 1979 (West Bengal Act 13 of 1979).
(5) On the [plot of land] of a raiyat being vested in the State under sub-section (4) his ownership therein shall cease and the rights of the lessee, if any, shall terminate and the raiyat shall be entitled to receive an amount to be determined under section 14V.
4A. Certain restrictions on rights of raiyats in Sadar, Kalimpong and Kurseong sub-divisions of Darjeeling District
(1) In the Sadar sub-division, Kalimpong sub-division and Kurseong sub-division of the district of Darjeeling, the [Collector] of the district may, from time to time, give directions regarding the form of cultivation to be adopted by a raiyat in respect of his [plot of land] or prohibiting a raiyat from cutting more than one tree from his [plot of land] except with the previous permission in writing of the [Collector] or such other officer as may be authorised by the State Government in this behalf.
(2) For contravention of any of the directions given under sub-section (1), the [Collector] may, after giving the defaulting raiyat on opportunity to show cause against the action proposed to be taken, impose upon him, by order, a fine not exceeding [one thousand rupees] which, if not duly paid, shall be recoverable as public demand.
(3) An appeal, if presented within thirty days from the date of the order appealed against, shall lie to the Commissioner against any order passed by the [Collector]under sub-section (2) and the decision of the Commissioner shall be final:
Provided that in giving directions as aforesaid, the Collector shall follow such procedure as may be prescribed;.
[4B. Maintenance and preservation of land.—Every raiyat holding any land shall maintain and preserve such land in such manner that its area is not diminished or its character is not changed or the land is not converted for any purpose other than the purpose for which it was settled or previously held except with the previous order in writing of the Collector under Provided that any raiyat may plant and grow trees on any land held by him within the ceiling area applicable to him and to his family without any previous order under section 4C, if such land is not cultivated by bargadar].
[ xxx ]
[4C. Permission for change of area, character or use of land.—(1) A raiyat holding any land may apply to the Collector for change of area of character of such land or for conversion of the same for any purpose other than the purpose for which it was settled or was being previously used or for alteration in the mode of use of such land.]
[Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, mode of use of land may be residential, commercial, industrial, agriculture excluding plantation of tea, pisciculture, forestry, sericulture, horticulture, public utilities or other use of land.]
(2) On receipt of such application, the Collector may, after making such inquiry as may be prescribed and after giving the applicant or the persons interested in such land or affected in any way an opportunity of being heard, by order in writing either reject the application or direct such change, conversion or alteration, as the case may be, on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed:
[Provided that where the application as stated in sub-section (1) relates to permission for change, conversion or alteration of any plot of land having water body of any description or size, the Collector shall not make any order, unless he has made a prior consultation in writing with such appropriate Department of the State Government as may be prescribed and such order of the Collector may, depending on the circumstances of case, include an order for creation of compensatory water body of equal or larger size of such water body which is required to be changed, converted or altered.]
(3) Every order under sub-section (2) directing change, conversion or alteration shall specify the date from which such change, conversion or alteration shall take effect.
(4) A copy of the order passed by the Collector directing change, conversion or alteration, if any, under sub-section (2), or in an appeal therefrom shall be forwarded to the Revenue Officer referred to in section 50 or section 51, as the case may be, and such Revenue Officer shall incorporate in the record-of-rights changes effected by such order and revise the record-of-rights in accordance with such order.
[(4A) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other law for the time being in force, where the approval of the appropriate Department of the State Government or the local authority in respect of any scheme or project, or the permission of the appropriate Department of the State Government or the local authority in respect of construction of buildings or any other permission to conduct any business or carrying on any activity—
(a) involves change of area of any plot of land or character of such plot of land or conversion of the same as mentioned in sub-section (1); or
(b) amounts to using of any plot of land having any water body of any description or size in a manner that degrades or destroys, directly or indirectly, such water body, no such approval or permission of the appropriate Department of the State Government or the local authority shall be made unless the order of the Collector directing change, conversion or alteration of such plot of land or plot of land having any water body of any description or size, as the case may be, under sub-section (2), is obtained.]
[(5) (a) Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this section, where any plot of land has been changed or converted or altered in violation of this section, if the Collector, on his own motion or on receiving information, is of the opinion that it is necessary so to do in public interest, he may make an order directing araiyat or a lessee for restoration of the original character of the concerned land within a specified time.
(b) On receipt of the order, the raiyat or the lessee shall restore the original character of the plot of land at his own cost within such time, as may be ordered by the Collector.
(c) If the raiyat or lessee fails to comply with the order, the Collector may take action for restoring the original character of such plot of land and realise the cost for restoration from the raiyat or the lessee.
(d) If the raiyat or lessee fails to pay the cost of restoration, the Collector may realise the cost as a public demand in accordance with the provision of the Bengal Public Demands Recovery Act, 1913 (Bengal Act No. 3 of 1913)].
[(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this section, where any plot of land not exceeding 0.03 acre situated in the areas falling within the local limits of any Municipal Corporation or Municipality, or any plot of land not exceeding 0.08 acre situated in the area not falling within the local limits of any Municipal Corporation or Municipality, other than any plot of land having water body of any description or size, has been changed, converted or altered in the area, character or mode of use of such plot of land in violation of the provision of sub-section (2) of section 4C and if the State Government, on the basis of any report of the Collector, is of the opinion that it is necessary to do so in the public interest, the State Government may, by order, authorise the Collector to regularise such change, conversion or alteration in the area, character or mode of use of the said plot of land, other than any plot of land having water body of any description or size, [on payment of such fee depending on the different character or mode of use or size of the plot of land,] and in such manner, as may be prescribed.]
[Provided that the provision of this sub-section shall not apply to any application for regularisation of any plot of land where such plot of land is changed, converted or altered in the area, character or mode of use of such plot of land in violation of the provision of sub-section (2) of section 4C, made after such time as may be prescribed:
Provided further that the provision of this sub-section shall not apply to any case where prosecution has been initiated under section 4D.]
[4D. Offence and penalties.]—(1) Any change, conversion or alteration in the area, character or mode of use of any land, except in accordance with the provisions of section 4C, or any violation of the order of the Collector under sub-section (5) of section 4C, [shall be a cognisable and non-bailable offence and shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees or with both]:
Provided that no prosecution shall lie for an offence under this sub-section in a case where an action has already been taken by the prescribed authority under sub-section (4) of section 4:
[ xxx ]
[(2) xxx ]
[4E. Bar to registration.—No transfer (including sales in execution of a decree of a civil court or for recovery of arrears of land revenue) of any land or interest in such land within an urban agglomeration as defined in the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976 (33 of 1976) or within any part of such urban agglomeration, as may be specified by the State Government by notification in the Official Gazette and used mainly for agriculture or as an orchard, without any order in writing of the Collector shall be valid and no registering authority shall, notwithstanding the provisions of the Registration Act, 1908 (16 of 1908), register a document of such transfer unless order of the Collector in writing permitting such transfer is produced:
Provided that any application made to the Collector for permission for any such transfer made of one’s own motion or for registration of a transfer in execution of a decree of a civil court shall be disposed of by the Collector within sixty days of the application failing which it shall be within the rights of the registering authority to register the document of the transfer.]
5-Transferability of [plot of land] of a raiyat.—(1) A transfer of the [plot of land] of a raiyator a share or portion thereof shall be made by an instrument which must be registered and the registering officer shall not accept for registration any such instrument unless—
(a) the sale price, or where there is no sale price, the value of the [plot of land] or portion or share thereof transferred, is stated therein [ xxx ];
(b) there is tendered along with it—
(i) a notice giving the particulars of the transfer in the prescribed form for transmission of the prescribed authority;
(ii) such notices and process fees as may be required by sub-section (4);
[(c) the purpose for which the land shall be used by the transferee is stated therein;] and
[(d) such purpose for use of the land by the transferee is consistent with the purpose for which the land was settled or was being used and is not contrary to the provisions of section 4B, section 4C, section 4E or section 49.
Explanation.—The purposes under clauses (c) and (d) shall include agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, trade, manufacture, entertainment, recreation, sport or such other purposes.]
(2) In case of bequest of such [plot of land] or portion or share thereof, no Court shall grant Probate or Letters of Administration until the applicant files in the prescribed form a notice giving particulars of the bequest together with the prescribed process fees for transmission to the prescribed authority.
(3) No Court or Revenue Officer shall confirm the sale of such a [plot of land] or portion or share thereof put to sale in execution of a decree or certificate and no Court shall make a decree or order absolute for foreclosure of a mortgage of such a [plot of land] or portion or share thereof, until the purchaser of the mortgagee, as the case may be, files a notice or notices similar to, and deposits process fees of the same amount as that referred to in sub-section (1).
(4) If the transfer of a portion or share of such a [plot of land] be one to which the provisions of section 8 apply, there shall be filed by the transferor or transferee notices giving particulars of the transfer in the prescribed form together with the process fees prescribed for the service thereof on all the co-sharers of the said[plot of land] who are not parties to the transfer and for affixing a copy thereof in the office of the registering officer of the Court house or the office of the Revenue Officer, as the case may be, as well as for affixing a copy on the [plot of land].
(5) The Court, the Revenue Officer or the registering officer, as the case may be, shall transmit the notice to the authority referred to in sub-clause (i) of clause (b) of sub-section (1) who shall serve the notices on the co-sharers referred to in sub-section (4) by registered post and shall cause copies of the notice to be affixed on the [plot of land] and in the Court house or in the office of the Revenue Officer, or of the registering officer, as the case may be.
Explanation.—In this section-
(a) “transferor”, [“transferee”], “purchaser” and “mortgagee” include their successors-in-interest, and
(b) “transfer” does not include simple or usufructuary mortgage or mortgage by deposit of title deeds.
[6. Omitted]
7-Limitation on mortgage of raiyati [plot of land].—(1) A mortgage by a raiyatof his [plot of land] or any share thereof other than—
(a) a simple mortgage, or
(b) a usufructuary mortgage for a period not exceeding fifteen years, or
[(c) a mortgage by deposit of title deeds in favour of—
(i) a scheduled bank as defined in the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934), or
(ii) a co-operative land mortgage bank registered or deemed to be registered under any law for the time being in force, or
(iii) a public financial institution referred to in section 4A of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), or
(iv) a corporation owned or controlled by the Central Government or the State Government or by both the Central Government and the State Government, or
(v) the International Finance Corporation established under the Agreement as defined in clause (a) of section 2 of the International Finance Corporation (Status, Immunities and Privileges) Act, 1958 (42 of 1958), or
(vi) such other financial institution, by whatever name called, established or registered under any law for the time being in force, as the State Government or the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify, for the purpose of obtaining loan or financial assistance (including debenture as defined in clause (12) of section 2 of the Companies Act, 1956) for the development of the land comprised in the [plot of land]of such raiyat or for the improvement of any agricultural production (including horticulture or fishery) or for the development or improvement of any plantation or for the establishment or development of any industry, livestock breeding, dairy, poultry farming, commercial unit, educational centre, health centre, public recreation centre or research centre upon such land or for the promotion and [plot of land] of sports or cultural or philanthropical activity upon such land or for the construction of any housing estate for bona fide residential purpose or any building for providing accommodation for any office upon such land or for such other activity as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify,] shall be void.
(2) A usufructuary mortgage referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (1) may be redeemed at any time before the expiry of the period.
The right of Pre- Emption by Co-sharer and Bargadar
8-Right of purchase by co-sharer or contiguous tenant.
9-Revenue Officer to allow the application and apportion lands in certain cases.
10-Consequences of an order for transfer.
[11. xxx xxx ]
[12. Land gained by recess of river or sea.—Any land gained by gradual accession to a [plot of land] whether from the recess of river or of the sea, shall vest in the State Government and the raiyat who owns [the plot of land] shall not be entitled to retain such land as accretion thereto.]
[13. xxx xxx *]
14-Partition of plot of land among co-sharers of a raiyatin plot of land
(1) Partition of a 1 [plot of land] among [co-sharers of a raiyat owning it] shall be made either by—
(a) a registered instrument; or
(b) a decree or order of a Court.
(2) When partition is effected by an instrument, the registering officer shall not accept for registration any such instrument unless there is tendered along with it a notice, giving the particulars of the [plot of land] and the area of each share, and such process fee as may be prescribed, for transmission to the prescribed authority.
(3) If as a result of partition one or more shares comprise an area less than the standard area—
(a) the prescribed authority in a case where partition is effected by a registered instrument, or
(b) the Court passing the decree or order for partition, shall recast the shares, excluding the homesteads of the co-sharers, so that no share is less than the standard area, and sell such shares, or when the [plot of land] comprises an area which cannot be partitioned into two or more shares, each comprising not less than the standard area, sell the entire [plot of land] to the highest bidder or bidders among the co-sharers, or failing them to other persons, and the sale proceeds shall, after deducting the expenses for conducting the sale, be paid to the co-sharers in accordance with their shares in the 1[plot of land] partitioned, excluding the homesteads.
(4) If the [plot of land] or any share or shares thereof cannot be sold as aforesaid, the prescribed authority or the Court shall report the case to the State Government and the State Government shall, by order made in this behalf, take over such [plot of land] or share or shares and shall place at the disposal of the prescribed authority or the Court, as the case may be, the market value thereof for payment to the co-sharers in the manner indicated in sub-section (3).
(5) For the purpose of preventing fragmentation of 1[plot of lands] as a result of partition to the State Government may by order made in this behalf specify an area, which in its opinion is the minimum unit for effect [utilisation] in the interest of [xxx] production [or in the public interest] as the standard area, and different standard areas may be specified for different localities or for different classes of land.
[(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force or in any agreement or any custom or usage or any decree, judgment or award of any court, no partition amongst [co-sharers of a raiyat in a plot of land] and coparceners of a Hindu undivided family governed or claiming to be governed by the Mitakshara School of Hindu Law shall have any force unless such partition is made by registered instrument or by a decree or order of a Court and is effected by metes and bounds; and both the conditions having been fulfilled any such partition shall be deemed to have come into force from the date of registration of the deed of partition or the date of final decree or order of a Court, as the case may be, or from the date of effecting partition by metes and bounds, whichever is later.]
Restrictions on Alienation of Land by Scheduled Tribes [ 14A to 14I ]
CHAPTER IIB
Ceiling on Land held by a Raiyat
14J. Provisions of Chapter II-B to have overriding effect.—The provisions of this Chapter shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Act or in any other law for the time being in force or in any custom, usage or contract (express or implied) or in any agreement, decree, order, decision or award of any court, tribunal or other authority:
Provided that nothing in this Chapter shall apply to any vacant land in an urban agglomeration as defined in the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976 (33 of 1976).
14K. Definitions.—In this Chapter,—
(a) “ceiling area” means the extent of land which a raiyat shall be entitled to own;
(b) “charitable purpose” includes relief of the poor, medical relief or the advancement of education or of any other object of general public utility; and
(c) “family”, in relation to a raiyat shall be deemed to consist of–
(i) himself and his wife, minor sons, unmarried daughters, if any,
(ii) his unmarried adult son, if any, who does not hold any land as a raiyat,
(iii) his married adult son, if any, where neither such adult son nor the wife nor any minor son or unmarried daughter of such adult son holds any land as a raiyat,
(iv) widow of his predeceased son, if any, where neither such widow nor any minor son or unmarried daughter of such widow holds any land as a raiyat,
(v) minor son or unmarried daughter, if any, of his predeceased son, where the widow of such predeceased son is dead and any minor son or unmarried daughter of such predeceased son does not hold any land as a raiyat, but shall not include any other person.
Explanation I.—For the purposes of this Chapter, an adult unmarried person shall include a man or woman who has been divorced and who has not remarried thereafter
Provided that where such divorced man or woman is the guardian of any minor son, or unmarried daughter, or both, he or she, together with such minor son or unmarried daughter, or both, shall be deemed to be a separate family.
Explanation II.—References in this clause to wife, son or daughter shall, in relation to a raiyat who is a woman, be construed as references to the husband, son or daughter, respectively, of such woman;
(d) “irrigated area” means an area specified as such by the State Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, being an area which is, or is in the opinion of the State Government capable of being irrigated, at any time during the agricultural year commencing on the 1st day of Baisakh, 1377 B.S., or thereafter, from any State canal irrigation project or [State power-driven deep tube-well or shallow tube-well or any other State irrigation project] or State river lift irrigation project;
(e) “orchard” means a compact area of land having fruit bearing trees grown thereon in such number that they preclude; or when fully grown would preclude, a substantial part of such land from being used for [any other] purpose;
[(ee) “project report” means a project report relating to such purpose as mentioned in the first proviso to section 14Y, which has been examined, vetted and approved by the appropriate Department of the State Government;]
(f) “standard hectare” means,—
(i) in relation to an agricultural land, an extent of land equivalent to—
(a) 1.00 hectare in an irrigated area,
(b) 1.40 hectares in any other area,
(ii) in relation to any land comprised in an orchard, an extent of land equivalent to 1.40 hectares,
(iii) in relation to any other land, an extent of land equivalent to 1.40 hectare.
14L. No raiyat to hold land in excess of the ceiling area.—[Subject to the provisions of sub-section (3) of section 14Q, section 14Y and sub-section (2) of section 14Z, on and from the commencement] of the provisions of this Chapter, no raiyat shall be entitled to own, in the aggregate, any land in excess of the ceiling area applicable to him under section 14M.
14M. Ceiling area.—(1) The ceiling area shall be,—
(a) in the case of a raiyat, who is an adult unmarried person, 2.50 standard hectares;
(b) in the case of a raiyat, who is the sole surviving member of a family, 2.50 standard hectares;
(c) in the case of a raiyat having a family consisting of two or more, but not more than five members, 5.00 standard hectares;
(d) in the case of a raiyat having a family consisting of more than five members, 5.00 standard hectares, plus 0.50 standard hectare for each member in excess of five, so, however, that the aggregate of the ceiling area for such raiyat shall not, in any case, exceed 7.00 standard hectares;
(e) in the case of any other raiyat, 7.00 standard hectares.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where, in the family of a raiyat, there are more raiyats than one, the ceiling area for the raiyat, together with the ceiling area of all the other raiyats in the family shall not, in any case, exceed,–
(a) where the number of members of such family does not exceed five, 5.00 standard hectares;
(b) where such number exceeds five, 5.00 standard hectares, plus 0.50 standard hectare for each member in excess of five, so, however, that the aggregate of the ceiling area shall not, in any case, exceed 7.00 standard hectares.
(3) For the purposes of sub-section (2), all the lands owned individually by the members of a family or jointly by some or all the members of such family shall be deemed to be owned by the raiyats in the family.
(4) In determining the extent of land owned by the raiyats in a family or the sole surviving member of a family or an adult unmarried person, the share of suchraiyat or raiyats, or such sole surviving member, or such adult unmarried person, as the case may be, in the lands owned by a co-operative society, company, cooperative farming society, Hindu undivided family or a firm shall be taken into account.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, the share of a raiyat in a family or the sole surviving member of a family or an adult unmarried person in the lands owned by a cooperative society or a joint family shall be deemed to be the extent of land which would be allotted to such raiyat or person had such lands been divided or partitioned, as the case may be.
[(5) The lands owned by a trust or endowment other than that of a public nature, shall be deemed to be lands owned by the author of the rust or endowment and such author shall be deemed to be a raiyat under this Act to the extent of his share in the said lands, and the share of such author in the said lands shall be taken into account for calculating the area of lands owned and retainable by such author of the trust or endowment, and for determining his ceiling area for the purpose of this Chapter.
Explanation.—The expression “author of trust or endowment” shall include the successors-in-interest of the author of such trust or endowment.]
[(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), a trust or an institution of public nature exclusively for a charitable or religious purpose or both shall be deemed to be a raiyat under this Act and shall be entitled to retain lands not exceeding 7.00 standard hectares, not withstanding the number of its centres or branches in the State.]
14N. Determination of irrigated area.—(1) If any question arises Is to whether any land is or is not within an irrigated area, such question shall be determined by the prescribed authority in such manner as may he prescribed.
(2) The State Government shall prescribe such authority as it may think it for the determination of the question referred to in sub-section (1).
14O. Appeal.—(1) Any person who is aggrieved-by any determination made by the prescribed authority under section 14N may, within thirty days from the date of such determination or within such further time as the appellate authority may, on sufficient cause being shown, allow, prefer an appeal to such authority as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf, against such determination. (2) On receipt of such appeal, the appellate authority may, after giving reasonable opportunity to the appellant of being heard, confirm, modify or reverse the determination made by the prescribed authority.
[14P. Land transferred after the 7th day of August, 1969 to be taken into account in determining the ceiling area.—(1) In determining the ceiling area, any land transferred by sale, gift or otherwise or partitioned, by a raiyat after the 7th day of August, 1969 but before the date of publication of the West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1971 in the Official Gazette, shall be taken into account as if such land had not been transferred or partitioned, as the case may be:
Provided that provisions of sub-section (1) shall not apply to transfer or partition of land to which provisions of section 3A apply.
(la) In determining the ceiling area, any land to which the provisions of section 3A of this Act apply and which was transferred or partitioned after the 7th day of August, 1969, but before the 9th day of September, 1980, shall be taken into account as if such land had not been transferred or partitioned, as the case may be.
(2) The provisions of sub-section (1 a) shall not apply to a bona fide transfer or partition of any land as aforesaid, and the partition shall lie on the transferor or the person in whose name the land stood recorded before the partition, as the case may be.
(3) For the purposes of sub-section (2), the transfer of any land in favour of one or more of the following relatives of the transferor shall be presumed to be not bona fide—
(a) wife, or
(b) husband, or
(c) child, or
(d) grandchild, or
(e) parent, or (t) grandparent, or
(g) brother, or
(h) sister, or
(i) brother’s son or daughter, or
(j) sister’s son or daughter, or
(k) daughter’s husband, or (I) son’s wife, or
(m) wife’s brother or sister, or
(n) brother’s wife.]
14Q. Ceiling area in special cases.-[(1) . . . .]
[(2) and (2A) omitted]
(3) If the State Government, after having regard to all the circumstances of the case, is satisfied that a corporation or institution established exclusively for a charitable or religious purpose, or both, or a person holding any land in trust, or in pursuance of any other endowment, creating a legal obligation exclusively for a purpose which is charitable or religious, or both, requires land, as distinct from the income [or usufructs] derived from such land, for the due performance of its obligation, it may, by notification in the Official Gazette, increase the ceiling area for such corporation or institution or person to such extent as it may think fit:
[Provided that the State Government may, at any time on its own motion or on an application, revise an order under this sub-section and may resume the whole or any part of the land in excess of the ceiling area and take possession of such resumed land after giving the parties concerned an opportunity of being heard.]
14R. Exemption.—The provisions of section 14M shall not apply—
(a) to any land owned as a raiyat by [a local authority or any wholly Government company as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956, or] [an]authority constituted or established by [or under] any law for the time being in force;
(b) for such period as may be specified by the State Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, to any land in such hilly portion of the district of Darjeeling as may be specified in the said notification.
14S. Vesting of land in excess of ceiling area.—(1) On the commencement of the provisions of this Chapter, [or on any subsequent date] any land owned by araiyat in excess of the ceiling area applicable to him shall vest in the State free from all encumbrances.
(2) Where any land vested in the State under sub-section (1) is being cultivated by a bargadar, the right of cultivation of such bargadar in relation to any such vested land which, including any other land owned or cultivated by him is in excess of [0.4047 hectare of land used for agriculture] shall, on the commencement of the provisions of this Chapter, [or on any subsequent date], stand terminated.
(3) Every bargadar shall, in relation to the land which he is authorised by sub-section (2) to retain under his cultivation, become, on and from the date of commencement of the provisions of this Chapter, [or on any subsequent date], a raiyat.
[14SS. Power to enter upon and take possession of vested land.—(1) Upon vesting of any land in the State under any of the provisions of this Act, the Revenue Officer or the prescribed authority or any other officer or authority who makes the order of vesting shall enter upon and take possession of such vested land by using such force as may be necessary for this purpose.
(2) Any Revenue Officer, prescribed authority or any other officer or authority empowered in this behalf, may enter upon and take possession of any other vested land by using such force as may be necessary for this purpose.
(3) For the purpose of entering upon such land and taking possession thereof, any such officer or authority may send a written requisition in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed to the officer-incharge of the local police station, or to any police officer superior in rank to such officer-in-charge, and on receipt of such written requisition, the police officer concerned shall render all necessary and lawful assistance for taking possession of such land.]
14T. Duty of raiyat to furnish return.—(1) Every raiyat owning land in excess of the ceiling area shall furnish to the Revenue Officer, in such form and within such time as may be prescribed, a return containing the full description of the land which he proposes to retain within the ceiling area applicable to him under section 14M and a full description of the land which is in excess of the ceiling area and such other particulars as may be prescribed.
(2) Where there are more raiyats than one in a family, the return referred to in sub-section (1) shall be furnished by the head of the family or any other raiyat in accordance with the provisions of that sub-section.
(3) The Revenue Officer may, on receipt of a return submitted under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), or on his own motion, determine the extent of land which is to vest in the State under section 14S and take possession of such lands:
Provided that where a raiyat has exercised his choice of retention of land within the ceiling area in such a way that portions of more than one plot are to vest in the State, the Revenue Officer may disregard the choice exercised by the raiyat and may, after giving the raiyatan opportunity of being heard, determine the plot or, where necessary, plots of land proposed to be retained by the raiyat from which an area equal to the area of the portions of the plots shown in the return to be in excess of the ceiling area, is to vest in the State and take possession of such land:
[Provided further that in the case of mortgage by a raiyat by deposit of title deeds under clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 7, such raiyat shall first retain the land comprised in his [plot of land] and mortgaged by him within the ceiling area and where the total area of any land comprised in his [plot of land] and mortgaged by him exceeds the ceiling area, such portion of the land so mortgaged as is in excess of the ceiling area, together with any other land owned by him but not so mortgaged, shall vest in the State free from all encumbrances.]
[(3A) The Revenue Officer may of his own motion and after giving the raiyat an opportunity of being heard, revise an order made under sub-section (3) and determine afresh the extent of land which is to vest in the State under section 14S and take possession of such land:
Provided that applications made to the Revenue Officer prior to the commencement of the West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1978 shall be disposed of by the Revenue Officer in accordance with the provisions of this sub-section.]
(4) If a raiyat fails to furnish, without any reasonable excuse, the return referred to in sub-section (1), or sub-section (2), within the prescribed time or wilfully makes any omission or incorrect statement in such return, he shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees or both.
[(5) The Revenue Officer, on his own motion or upon any information, may, after giving the persons interested an opportunity of being heard, enquire and decide any question of benami in relation to any land and any question of title incidental thereto or any interest therein or any matter of transaction made, on being satisfied that such enquiry and decision are necessary for the purpose of preparation, correction or revision of record-of-rights and all matters incidental or consequential thereto or detection and vesting of surplus land over the ceiling area.]
[(6) The Revenue Officer, on his own motion or upon any information, may, after giving the persons interested an opportunity of being heard, enquire and decide any question as to whether any trust, endowment or institution is of public or private nature or of exclusively religious or charitable in character, or both, and any question of title incidental thereto as may be necessary to determine the extent of land which is to vest in the State under section 14S, by examining the documents, if any, or by taking into account the following, among others—
(i) actual user of income or usufructs of the land,
(ii) mode of cultivation,
(iii) pattern of utilisation of the land, and
(iv) share of income or usufructs of the land appropriated or enjoyed, or the area of such land occupied or enjoyed, by or on behalf of the manager, sebait, mutwalli, or any other person managing the trust, endowment or institution.]
[(7) Any person aggrieved by any order made under sub-section (3), (3A), (5) or (6) may prefer an appeal under section 54.]
[(8) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in the West Bengal Estates Acquisition Act, 1953 (West Bengal Act No. 1 of 1954) or in any other law for the time being in force or in any agreement, custom or usage or in any decree, judgment, decision or award of any court, tribunal or authority, the provisions of sub-sections (5), (6) and (7) shall operate with retrospective effect from the 5th day of May, 1953.]
[(9) Sub-sections (5), (6), (7) and (8) of this section shall be deemed to have always been inserted in the West Bengal Estates Acquisition Act, 1953 (West Bengal Act 1 of 1954). Any officer specially empowered in this behalf under the provision of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition Act, 1953 or under the provisions of this Act, may, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (5) to (8), reopen and decide afresh any proceeding, case or dispute in relation to determination of total land held by an intermediary or a raiyat or an under-raiyat at any point of time or may determine the quantum of land such intermediary, raiyat or under-raiyatwas or is entitled to retain and also may determine the extent of land which is to vest in the State or which shall remain vested in the State and shall take possession of such land in accordance with the provisions of section 14SS. Notwithstanding any judgment, decision or award of any court, tribunal or authority to the contrary, the rule of res judicata shall not apply to such cases of reopening and fresh determination.]
[(10) Notwithstanding any return submitted by a raiyat under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) and notwithstanding any order passed by the Revenue Officer under sub-section (3) or sub-section (3A) in respect of the land owned by him, the State Government may, at any time by a notification in the Official Gazette, ask every raiyat owning land in excess of the ceiling area under section 14M to furnish to the Revenue Officer, in such form as may be prescribed and within such time as may be specified in the notification, a return containing the full description of the land which he proposes to retain within the ceiling area applicable to him under section 14M and a full description of the land which is in excess of the ceiling area and such other particulars as may be prescribed.
(11) On the publication of the notification under sub-section (10), the provisions of this section shall apply mutatis mutandis to every raiyat owning land in excess of the ceiling area under section 14M.]
14U. Restriction on transfer of land by a raiyat.—(1) Except where he is permitted, in writing, by the Revenue Officer so to do, a raiyat owning land in excess of the ceiling area applicable to him under section 14M, shall not, after the publication, in the Official Gazette, of the [West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1971] transfer by sale, gift or otherwise or make any partition of any land owned by him or any part thereof until the excess land, which is to vest in the State under section 14S, has been determined and taken possession of by or on behalf of the State.
[Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to any land to v which the provisions of section 3A apply :
Provided further that if a raiyat has transferred any land which he retained in pursuance of any order of the Revenue Officer under sub-section (3) or sub-section (3A) of section 14T, such land shall be taken into account in determining, on any subsequent occasion, the ceiling area of the said raiyat in pursuance of the provisions of this Act, as if such land had not been transferred.]
[(2) Except where he is permitted, in writing, by the Revenue Officer so to do, a raiyat owning land to which the provisions of section 3A apply, whether or not such land together with other land, if any, is in excess of the ceiling area under section 14M, shall not on and from the date of coming into force of section 3A of the Act, transfer by sale, gift or otherwise, or make any partition of, any such land or any part thereof until the excess land, if any, which is to vest in the State under section 14S has been determined or redetermined and taken possession of by or on behalf of the State.]
[(3) If a raiyat makes any transfer, whether by sale, gift or otherwise, of any land in contravention of the provisions of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), the State Government may, in the first instance, take possession of land, equal in area to the land which is to vest in the State, from out of the land owned by such raiyatand where such recovery from the raiyat is not possible, from the transferee:
Provided that where the transferee is a person who is eligible for allotment of surplus land in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the State Government may, instead of enforcing its right to recover the land or equal amount of land, recover from the transferor the amount which he had received as consideration for the transfer of such land.]
[(4) Any raiyat who transfers any land in contravention of the provisions of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall be punishable with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with both :
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to any transfer made in accordance with the provisions of any law for the time being in force.]
[14V. Payment of amount.—The State Government shall pay, in the prescribed manner, for the vesting of any land in the State under the provisions of this Act, after possession of such land is taken under sub-section (3) of section 14T, to the person or persons having any interest therein an amount equal to fifteen times the land revenue or its equivalent assessed for such land; or where such land revenue or its equivalent has not been assessed or is not required to be assessed, an amount calculated at the rate of Rs. 135 for an area of 0.4047 hectare.]
14W. Damages for use and occupation of land.—Omitted by West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1980 (XLI of 1980).
14X. Bar of jurisdiction of Civil Courts.—No Civil Court shall have jurisdiction to decide or deaf with any question or to determine any matter which is by or under this Chapter required to be decided or dealt with or to be determined by the Revenue Officer or other authority specified therein and no orders passed or proceedings commenced under the provision of this Chapter shall be called in question in any Civil Court.
[14Y. Limitation on future acquisition of land by a raiyat.—If at any time, after the commencement of the provisions of this Chapter, the total area of land owned by a raiyat exceeds the ceiling area applicable to him under section 14M, on account of transfer, inheritance or otherwise, the area of land which is in excess of the ceiling area shall vest in the State and all the provisions of this Chapter relating to ceiling area shall apply to such land:]
[Provided that if the State Government, after having regard to all the circumstances of a case and on the basis of the project report filed by any person, is satisfied that such person requires land—
(a) for the purpose of establishing a mill, factory or workshop, livestock breeding farm, poultry farm, dairy, industrial park or industrial hub or industrial estate, financial hub, warehousing, tea garden, agro-industry, power plant or power transmission or distribution sub-station, film city, tourism project, educational and medical institutions, biotech park, food park, port, airport, shipyard including shipbuilding and ship-breaking, oil and gas products piped transportation, information and communications technology (ICT) industries and information and communications technology (ICT) allied industries or mining and allied activities; and
(b) for the purpose of future expansion of any such mill, factory or workshop, livestock breeding farm, poultry farm or dairy, industrial park or industrial hub or industrial estate, financial hub, warehousing, agro-industry, power plant or power transmission or distribution sub-station, film city, tourism project, biotech park, food park, port, airport, shipyard including shipbuilding and ship-breaking, information and communications technology (ICT) industries and information and communication technology (ICT) allied industries, such person may, with the previous permission. in writing, of the State Government and on such terms and conditions, and in such manner, as the State Government may, by rules prescribe, acquire and hold land it excess of the ceiling area applicable to him under section 14M:];
[Provided further that such person having been permitted by the State Government to establish an industrial park or industrial hub or industrial estate or financial hub or a biotech park or a food park, shall utilize such land and lease out the whole or any part of it with the previous permission of the appropriate Department of the State Government under intimation to the Land and Land Reforms Department, for the purpose for which he has been so permitted to acquire and hold such land to such a person who will set up an unit thereon as per objects of the respective project as approved:
Provided also that if such person fails to utilize such land within three years of the date of such permission granted under the first proviso for the purpose for which he has been so permitted by the State Government a id in any case the unit is not set up within the aforesaid period of three years as per objects of the project as mentioned in the second proviso, then, all the provisions of this Chapter relating to ceiling area shall apply to the area of land which is held in excess of the ceiling area applicable to him under section 14M.];
[Explanation I.—For the purposes of this section, “person” includes an individual, a firm, a company, an institution, or an association or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not, or a local authority or an authority constituted or established by or under any law for the time being in force];
[ xxx ]
14Z. Application of Chapter IIB.—For the removal of doubts it is hereby declared that—
(1) notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in any other law for the time being in force or in any agreement, custom or usage or in any decree, judgment, decision or award of any court, tribunal or authority, the provisions of this Chapter shall apply to all lands of all classes and descriptions defined in clause (7) of section 2;
[Provided that nothing of this section shall apply to the land possession of which has been allowed to be retained under clause (g) [or under clause (f) shall be deemed to have been inserted with effect from 7th day of August 1969] of sub-section (1) read with sub-section (3) of section 6 of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition Act, 1953 (West Bengal Act 1 of 1954), notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force or in any agreement or in any decree, judgment, decision, award of any Court, Tribunal or Authority:
Provided further that an intermediary, other than a lessee holding land directly under the State Government under a lease, who has been allowed to retain land under sub-section (3) of section 6 of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition Act, 1953, may be permitted, by written order of the State Government, [to transfer by way of open auction for the purposes referred to in the first proviso to section 14Y excluding tea garden] at the price not less than the reserve price to be determined by the Collector, so much of such land as in the opinion of the State Government is required for the purpose of revival of the mills, factories or workshops including the payment of the outstanding liabilities of the employees of such mills, factories or workshops, in such manner as may be prescribed and the price realised from such auction shall be utilised under the supervision and control of such authority, and in such manner, as may be prescribed:
Provided also that the portion of land permitted to be transferred by the State Government under the second proviso shall be deemed to have been retained by the intermediary under the provisions of clause (g) of sub-section (1) of section 6 of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition Act, 1953 and the provisions of sub-section (3) of section 6 of that Act shall stand amended to that extent for that particular case and the transferee shall be deemed to be a raiyat in respect of such portion of land.];
(2) in the case of land comprised in a tea garden, mill, factory or workshop or land used for the purpose of livestock breeding, [poultry farming or diary] the raiyat, or where the land is held under a lease, the lessee, may be allowed to retain (in excess of the prescribed ceiling) only so much of such land as, in the opinion of the State Government, is required for the purpose of the tea garden, mill, factory, workshop, livestock breeding, poultry farming or dairy, as the case may be:
Provided that the State Government may, if it thinks fit so to do, after reviewing the circumstances of a case and after giving the raiyat or the lessee, as the case may be, an opportunity of being heard, revise any order made by it under this clause specifying the land which the raiyat or the lessee shall be entitled to retain for tea garden, mill, factory, workshop, livestock breeding, [poultry farming or diary] as the case may be:
[Provided further that in determining the land required for the purpose of tea cultivation, there shall not be any diminution of the area of a tea garden.]
Explanation.—The expression “land under a lease” includes any land held directly under the State Government under a lease.]
Bargadars [ s 15 to 21E]
CHAPTER IV
Provisions as to revenue
22-Liability to pay revenue.—(1) A raiyatshall be liable to pay revenue for his plot of land.
(2) Revenue shall be a first charge on land held by the raiyat.
23. Determination of revenue.—Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any judgement, decree or order of any court or tribunal or in any law for the time being in force, a raiyat shall pay as revenue, determined at the rate as stated in column (3) of the Table below in respect of the category of plot of land as mentioned in column (2) of the said Table, with effect from such date, as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify:]
| Table | |||
| S. No. | Category of plot of land | Rate of revenue | |
| (1) | (2) | (3) | |
| 1. | Where any plot of land is situated in the areas not falling within the local limits of any Municipal Corporation or Municipality, other than the areas of the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority— | ||
| (a) in case such plot of land is used for the purpose of agriculture; | Rs.20.00 per acre. | ||
| (b) in case such plot of land is used for the purpose of activities allied to agriculture. Explanation.—The expression “activities allied to agriculture” shall mean fisheries, poultries, piggeries, potteries, floriculture, horticulture, sericulture, dairies, livestock breeding and include other land based bio-mass production activities; | Rs.30.00 per acre. | ||
| (c) in case such plot of land is comprised in tea garden and land used for cultivation of tea; | Rs.30.00 per acre. | ||
| (d) in case such plot of land is used as homesteads and non-agricultural purposes other than commercial and industrial activities as mentioned in clause (l) and (n); | Rs.40.00 per acre. | ||
| (e) in case such plot of land is held by any Government undertaking; | Rs.50.00 per acre. | ||
| (f) in case such plot of land is used by a company or a body corporate, other than Government company as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) for the purpose of activities allied to agriculture as defined in Explanation to clause (b); | Rs.150.00 per acre. | ||
| (g) in case such plot of land is used for brackish water fisheries by individual fish farmers or by any co-operative society; | Rs.200.00 per acre. | ||
| (h) in case such plot of land is used for brackish water fisheries by a company or any body corporate other than a Government company as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956); | Rs.400.00 per acre. | ||
| (i) in case such pot of land is used for any commercial and industrial activities as mentioned in clause (n) without having any pucca structure; | Rs.500.00 per acre. | ||
| (j) in case such plot of land is used under multistory building by any co-operative society; | Rs.600.00 per acre. | ||
| (k) in case such plot of land is used for housing complex developed by any private company or any public company, other than a Government company as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956; | Rs. 800.00 per acre. | ||
| (l) in case such plot of land is used for any commercial and industrial activities, not specified in clause (n), in any pucca structure; | Rs. 1,000.00 per acre. | ||
| (m) in case such plot of land is used for aggro-processing, food-processing, agro industries, agricultural commodities, storage warehouses and godowns, food parks in pucca structure; | Rs. 1,200.00 per acre. | ||
| (n) in case such plot of land is used for commercial and industrial activities.
Explanation.—The expression “commercial and industrial activities” shall mean cold storage, rice mills, general trading warehouses, godowns, automobiles garages, repairing shops, business establishments in market place or supermarket, multiplexes, cinema, theatre or video hers, and hotels, restaurants, and hospitals, pathological laboratories, nursing homes, and include other offices and establishments of any company or body corporate other than a Government company as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act (1 of 1956); | Rs.1,500.00 per acre. | ||
| (o) in case such plot of land is comprised in and used for mills, factories or workshops other than those commercial and industrial activities specified in clause (0 and clause (n). | Rs.2,000.00 per acre. | ||
| 2. | Where any plot of land is situated in the areas falling within the local limits of any Municipal Corporation or Municipality, other than the areas of the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority— | ||
| (a) in case such plot of land is used for the purpose of agriculture and activities allied to agriculture; | Rs. 20.00 per acre, | ||
| (b) in case such plot of land is used for homesteads and is situated within the local limits of- | |||
| (i) any Municipal Corporation, | Rs. 35 per decimal. | ||
| (ii) any Municipality of Category A, | Rs. 25 per decimal. | ||
| (iii) any Municipality of Category B, | Rs. 20 per decimal. | ||
| (iv) any Municipality of Category C, | Rs. 15 per decimal. | ||
| (v) any Municipality of Category D, | Rs. 10 per decimal. | ||
| (vi) any Municipality of Category E, | Rs. 5 per decimal. | ||
| (c) in case such plot of land is comprised in and used for mills, factories, workshops or any other commercial and industrial activities and such plot of land is situated within the local limits of- | |||
| (i) any Municipal Corporation, | Rs. 175 per decimal. | ||
| (ii) any Municipality of Category A, | Rs. 150 per decimal. | ||
| (iii) any Municipality of Category B, | Rs. 100 per decimal. | ||
| (iv) any Municipality of Category C, | |||
| (v) any Municipality of Category D, | Rs. 50 per decimal. | ||
| (vi) any Municipality of Category E. | Rs. 25 per decimal. | ||
| Explanation.—The expression “commercial and industrial activities” shall mean cold storages, warehouses, godowns, automobiles garages, repairing shops, business establishments in market place or supermarket, multiplexes, cinema, threatre or video halls, hotels, restaurants and hospitals, pathological laboratories and nursing homes, and include other offices or establishments of any company and body corporate other than a Government company as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956); | |||
| (d) in case such plot of land is used for non-agricultural purposes other than commercial and industrial activities mentioned in clause (c); | Rs. 50 per acre. | ||
| Explanation I.—For the purpose of determination of revenue in respect of any plot of land, municipalities are classified into the following categories on the basis of population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published: | |||
| Category A—municipal areas having population more than 2,15,000; | |||
| Category 8—municipal areas having population above 1,70,000 but not exceeding 2,15,000; | |||
| Category C—municipal areas having population above 85,000 but not exceeding 1,70,000; | |||
| Category D—municipal areas having population above 35,000 but not exceeding 85,000; | |||
| Category E—municipal areas having population not exceeding 35,000: | |||
| Provided that Darjeeling Municipality is classified as Category A municipality irrespective of the population. | |||
| Explanation IL—For the purpose of determination of revenue in respect of any plot of land comprised in and used for mills, factories, workshops, or other commercial and industrial activities, revenue for the portion of the plot of land which is not directly used for shops, offices, storages and godowns, parking spaces in pucca structures of such mills, factories, workshops shall be assessed at the rate specified in clause (d) of serial No. 2. | |||
[23A. Exemption.—Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Act, the following lands shall be exempted from the payment of revenue under this Act-
(a) land owned by the Central Government, the State Government and the local bodies;
(b) land used as public roads, burial grounds, places of worship, burning ghat or for such other public purposes as may be prescribed; and
(c) land held by the Government sponsored educational institution.].
[Explanation.—For the purpose of this section, the expression “Government sponsored educational institution” means the educational institution which is established under any law of the State of West Bengal, or recognized by the State Government, and is being aided by the State Government.]
24-Exemption of revenue and payment of cess and surcharge.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Chapter—
(a) where the Revenue Officer on his own motion or on an application made by a raiyat makes an order that the total area of land held by a raiyat and his family does not exceed 2.428 hectares, the raiyat and his family shall be exempted from paying revenue with effect from the 1st day of Baisakh, 1385 B.S.:
Provided that such exemption shall not affect the liability of the raiyat to pay any cess imposed on him under the Cess Act, 1880 (Bengal Act No. 9 of 1880), or the West Bengal Primary Education Act, 1973 (West Bengal Act No. 43 of 1973), or the West Bengal Rural Employment and Production Act, 1976 (West Bengal Act No. 14 of 1976), or any other law for the time being in force, on the basis of the revenue of his land determined under section 23:
Provided further that no exemption shall be made in respect of any land which lies within—
(a) any area within the local limits of a Municipality, or
[(b) xxx ]
[(c) xxx ]
[(d) xxx ]
(e) any area which is used for mill, factory, workshop or other commercial purposes;
(b) where the land held by a raiyat and his family is situated in both irrigated and non-irrigated areas, then, for the purposes of calculating the total area of land of the raiyat and his family, one hectare of land in irrigated area shall be deemed to be equivalent to 1.5 hectares of land in non-irrigated area;
(c) if any amount already paid by a raiyat is in excess of the revenue payable by him under this section, the amount paid in excess shall be refunded to him, but if there is any deficiency in such payment, such deficiency shall be recovered from him as an arrear of revenue under the Bengal Public Demands Recovery Act, 1913 (Bengal Act No. 3 of 1913), without any claim for interest being made on such deficiency.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, (r) “family”, in relation to a raiyat, shall be deemed to consist of himself, his wife, minor sons and unmarried daughters, if any, and (it) “irrigated area” shall have the same meaning as in clause (d) of section 14K.
(2) Any person aggrieved by an order made by the Revenue Officer under clause (a) of sub-section (1) may, within thirty days from the date of such order or within such further time as such authority may, on sufficient causes being shown, allow, prefer an appeal to such authority as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify.
25-Grounds for alteration of revenue.—The revenue payable by a raiyatmay, in the manner to be prescribed, be altered by the Revenue Officer, if the land held by the raiyatand his family has increased or decreased in area by diluvion, amalgamation, purchase, partition, subdivision, acquisition or any other cause whatsoever subsequent to he determination of revenue.
26-Bar to jurisdiction of Civil Court.—No suit or other legal proceedings shall be Inserted in any Civil Court in respect of the determination of any revenue or the omission to determine any revenue under this Chapter.
27-Instalment, time and place for payment of revenue.—(1) A Raiyat shall pay revenue in such instalments, in such manner, and at .such times, as may be prescribed.
(2) Payment of revenue shall be made at the office of the Revenue Inspector or at such other places and in such manner as may be prescribed.
(3) Any instalment of revenue or part thereof which is not duly paid within the prescribed time shall be deemed to be an arrear.
28-Raiyat entitled to receipt for revenue.—Every raiyatshall, on making payment of revenue, be entitled to obtain forthwith a written receipt in the prescribed form for the amount paid by him, signed by the person authorised to make collection of revenue.
29-Chapter IV to have overriding effect.—The provisions of this Chapter shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the West Bengal Land Holding Revenue Act, 1979 (West Bengal Act No. 44 of 1979).
[30. Repeal of West Bengal Act No. 44 of 1979.—The West Bengal Land Holding Revenue Act, 1979, shall stand repealed with effect from such date as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.]
31-38. [Omitted]
CHAPTER V
Consolidation of lands comprised in [plots of land] and Co-operative Farming Societies
39-Acquisition of [plots of land] for consolidation.—The State Government may—
(a) on the representation of raiyats in any area, [as may be necessary,] or
(b) on its own motion, acquire the lands in any area on payment of compensation to the raiyats owning them when the lands comprised in the [plots of land] of the raiyats in such area are not in compact blocks, if the State Government is of the opinion that the lands comprised [in the [plots of land] in such area] should be consolidated:
[Provided that consolidation of lands may be undertaken by the State Government if any seven or more persons being raiyats each owning land not exceeding 0.4047 hectare of land in the aggregate or being recipients of lands settled under section 49 or from both such categories make representation therefor.]
- Redistribution of land after acquisition.—On such acquisition being made, the State Government shall rearrange [the plots of land] so that the lands comprised in each [is] in a compact block and re-allot them to the raiyatswhose lands have been acquired, in such manner as it thinks fit ensuring that each raiyatgets 1[a plot of land] comprising the same area, and, as far as possible, lands of the same quality and value as before the consolidation:
Provided that no raiyat shall be entitled to receive any land in excess of the area held by him prior to acquisition:
Provided further that on such allotment being made there shall be deducted from the amount of compensation payable to a raiyat under section 39 the value of the land allotted to him after acquisition.
- Transference of encumbrances on [plot of land.]—If the [plot of land] of a raiyatwhich is acquired for the purposes of consolidation is subject to any encumbrance, such encumbrance shall be deemed to be transferred and attached to the land which is allotted to the raiyatafter acquisition and to the compensation, if any, payable to him under this Chapter and shall cease to have any effect against the land from which it has been so transferred.
- Recovery of the excess value of allotted land.—If the value of the land allotted to a raiyatafter acquisition be greater than the value of the land acquired from such raiyat, the difference in value shall be recoverable from him in such instalments as may be prescribed and if such difference be not paid within the time allowed for the purpose, it shall be recoverable as a public demand payable to the Collector unless the raiyatdeclines to accept settlement of the land allotted to him.
- [Formation of Co-operative Farming Societies.]—(1) Any seven or more raiyatsowning lands in a compact block or intending to acquire such land, may form themselves into a Co-operative Farming Society and apply in writing in the prescribed form, to the Registrar. Co-operative Societies for the registration of such society under [the West Bengal Co-operative Societies Act, 1973].
(2) The Registrar may, after such enquiry as he may deem fit, register the society under [the West Bengal Co-operative Societies Act, 1973], and grant a certificate of registration and on such registration the provisions of the [the West Bengal Co-operative Societies Act, 1973], subject to the special provisions of this Act, shall apply to such a society and the society may enlist new members in accordance with the rules and bye-laws under the said Act for the time being in force.
(3) When a Co-operative Farming Society has been registered under sub-section (2), all lands, excluding homesteads, belonging to the members thereof and forming one compact block, whether owned by them at the time when they became such members or acquired by them subsequently, shall vest in the society, and no member shall be entitled to hold in his personal capacity any land, excluding homestead, which together with any land belonging to him but vested in the society under the provisions of this sub-section exceeds the ceiling area applicable to him under Chapter II-B.
(4) When the lands belonging to a member of a Co-operative Farming Society vest in such society, there shall be allotted to him shares the value of which will, as far as possible, be equal to the value of the lands of the member vested in the society.
(5) Notwithstanding anything elsewhere contained in this Act, no Co-operative Farming Society shall have the right to acquire or hold any land except the land which vests in it under sub-section (3).
(6) Omitted by the West Bengal Land Reforms (Second Amendment) Act, 1972 (West Bengal Act 28 of 1972).
- Restriction on transfer of shares in a Co-operative Farming Society.—(1) The shares held by a member of Co-operative Farming Society shall not be transferred to any person other than another member of the society or a raiyator other person residing in the locality in which the society has been established.
(2) Subject to restrictions mentioned in sub-section (1), the shares held by a member of a Co-operative Farming Society shall be transferable and heritable.]
- [Dissolution of a Co-operative Farming Society.—No Cooperative Farming Society established in accordance with the provisions of this Act shall be wound up or dissolved except under the orders of the State Government.]
- [Transfer of lands on dissolution of Co-operative Farming Society.—When a Co-operative Farming Society is wound up or dissolved, the prescribed authority shall allot to its members, in such manner and subject to such rules as may be prescribed, all the lands vested in the society and rules may provide for equitable allotment of lands to the members having regard to the area and the quality of lands belonging to them before the vesting of such lands in the society.]
- [Revenue payable by Co-operative Farming Society.—When a Co-operative Farming Society is established under the provisions of this Act, the aggregate of the revenues which would have been payable by its members for their lands, if such lands had not been vested in the society shall be the revenue payable by the society for the lands vesting in it, subject to such reduction as may be allowed under section 48.]
- [Concession and facilities for a Co-operative Farming Society.—(1) A Co-operative Farming Society established under this Act shall be entitled to such concessions and facilities from the State Government as may be prescribed.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions, such concessions and facilities may include—
(a) such reduction of revenue as Government may allow;
(b) free supply of seeds and manure for the first three years and thereafter at concessional rates;
(c) free technical advice by the experts of the State Government; (a) financial assistance on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed; and
(e) arrangements for better marketing.]
[48A. Formation of Co-operative Common Service Society.—(1) Any seven or more persons each owning, cultivating or possessing in any capacity agricultural land not exceeding 0.74047 hectare in area in aggregate in any compact block or in different blocks may form themselves into a Co-operative Common Service Society and apply in writing, in the prescribed form, to the Registrar, Co-operative Societies, West Bengal, for registration of such society under the West Bengal Co-operative Societies Act, 1973 (West Bengal Act No. 38 of 1973).
(2) The Registrar may, after such enquiry as he may deem fit, register the society under the West Bengal Co-operative Societies Act, 1973 and grant a certificate, and on such registration the provisions of the West Bengal Co-operative Societies Act, 1973, shall, subject to the special provisions of this Act, apply to such a society and the society may enlist new members in accordance with the rules and bye-laws under the said Act for the time being in force:
Provided that the society shall not enlist any person as its member who owns, cultivates or possesses in any capacity agricultural land exceeding [0.4047 hectare]in the aggregate.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in the West Bengal Co-operative Societies Act, 1973 and the rules made thereunder—
(a) the Chairman of any Co-operative Common Service Society shall be nominated from amongst the elected directors of the society by the Collector having jurisdiction on receiving a written requisition from the elected directors of the society. A Chairman so nominated may be removed before expiry of the term of the managing committee of the society and a new Chairman may be nominated in his place;
(b) the first managing committee of any Co-operative Common Service Society shall hold office for a term not exceeding three years;
(c) after the expiry of the term of the first managing committee of the society, the Chairman shall be elected by the elected directors of the society.
(4) A Co-operative Common Service Society shall raise its funds from, among other sources, the State Government, the Central Government, any bank, any insurance corporation and other financial institutions or from among its own members as grant, loan or equity. The society shall acquire by purchase, grant, gift, hiring, or otherwise plough, cattle, manure (including chemical fertilisers), seeds, modern scientific agricultural implements and such other inputs as may be necessary for cultivation [and poultry farming] and supply or utilise the same among its members in proportion to the area of land held by them. The society may advance loan to the members out of its own fund [or out of the fund raised by it].
(5) The society may recover loans, interest, service charges and any other charge for supply of implements and price or part of price of inputs supplied to the members in accordance with the bye-laws of the society specially made for this purpose.
(6) The society may undertake marketing of produces grown by its members.
CHAPTER VI
Principles of distribution of lands
49-Principles of distribution of lands.-[(1) Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Act or in any other law for the time being in force settlement of any land which is at the disposal of the State Government, shall be made without any premium being charged for it, in such manner as may be prescribed, with person who are residents of the locality where the land is situated, and who together with other members of their family, own no land or less than [0.4047 hectares of land used for the purpose of agriculture] one half of the lands cultivated by them a bargadarsbeing taken into account for the purpose of calculating the aggregate of such land, and subject to the following conditions, namely,]—
(a) that, in the case of agricultural land, such person intends to bring the land under personal cultivation,
(b) that, in the case of homestead land, such person having no homestead of his own, intends to construct a dwelling house thereon, and
(c) such other terms and conditions as may be prescribed :
Provided that among the persons eligible for such settlement, preference shall be given to persons belonging to Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe or who form themselves into a Co-operative Society for the purpose:
[Provided further that no settlement of land shall be made with any person or with a member of the family of such person, who is engaged or employed in any business, trade, undertaking, manufacture, calling, service, or industrial occupation:
[Provided also that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to any case when freehold title-deed for land is given to a bonafide refugee in accordance with such norms as may be prescribed by the appropriate Department of the State Government.]
Explanation.—The second proviso to sub-section (1) shall not apply to an agricultural labourer, artisan, or fisherman.]
[(1A) No person with whom any land is or has been settled under sub-section (1) shall be entitled to transfer such land except by way of a simple mortgage or a mortgage by deposit of title deed in favour of a Scheduled Bank, or a Co-operative Society or a Corporation owned or controlled by the Central or State Government or both, and for the purpose of obtaining loan for the development of land or for the improvement of agricultural production or for the construction of a dwelling house.]
[(2) If a Revenue Officer, on his own motion or an application made to him in that behalf, after hearing the person with whom the land was settled and in the case of any subsequent transfer, the transferee as also the person who is, for the time being in actual occupation of such land and after making such enquiry as may be prescribed, is satisfied that settlement of such land was made by mistake or obtained under any provision of this section by practice of fraud, misrepresentation, coercion or otherwise or that a transfer of any land has been made in contravention of the provisions of sub-section (1A), he may, by order in writing, annul the settlement or both the settlement and the transfer, as may be deemed necessary.]
[(3) When a Revenue Officer makes an order under sub-section (2) annulling settlement or both the settlement and the transfer of any land, as the case may be, the Revenue Officer shall enforce delivery of possession of such land to the Collector by using such force as may be required after evicting the person in actual occupation of such land.]
[(3A) For the purpose of enforcing delivery of possession of any land and evicting any person in actual occupation of such land under sub-section (3), any such Revenue Officer may send a written requisition in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed to the officer-in-charge of the local police station or to any police officer superior in rank to such officer-in-charge and on receipt of such written requisition, the police officer concerned shall render all necessary and lawful assistance for enforcing delivery of possession of such land.]
(4) Any person aggrieved by an order made under sub-section (2) may, within thirty days from the date of such order, prefer an appeal to such authority as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette specify and the order passed by such authority in appeal shall be final.
[(4A) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this section, the State Government, or an officer authorised in this behalf by the State Government, may transfer to, or settle with, a local body or an authority constituted or established by or under any law for the time being in force land which is at the disposal of the State Government, for such purpose and on such terms and conditions as may be decided by the State Government.]
[(5) Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Act, where the State Government is satisfied that it is necessary so to do for a public purpose or for establishment, maintenance or preservation of any educational or research institution or industry, settlement for any period of any land may be made with any person or institution on such terms and conditions including periodical payments, with or without any premium being charged therefor, in such manner as may be prescribed.]
[Explanation l.]—For the purpose of this sub-section ‘person’ includes an individual, a firm, a company, or an association or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not.
[Explanation II.—For the purposes of this sub-section “industry” includes a tea-garden, mill 4 factory or workshop, livestock breeding, poultry farming, or dairy, [or township in an area declared to be a planning area under] the West Bengal Town and Country (Planning and Development) Act, 1979.]
[49A. Penalty for unauthorised occupation of vested lands.—Any person who—
(a) being in unauthorised occupation of any land which is at the disposal of the State Government fails to vacate such land after a notice has been served on him to do so, or
(b) obstructs any person with whom any land has been settled under sub-section (1) of section 49 from taking possession of such land, shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees or with both.]
CHAPTER VII
- Maintenance of the record-of-rights.—(1)[The prescribed authority] shall maintain up-to-date in the prescribed manner the village IT cord-of-rights by incorporating therein the changes on account of—
(a) Mutation of names as a result of transfer or inheritance;
(b) partition, exchange, or consolidation of lands comprised in [plot of land], or establishment of Co-operative Farming Societies;
(c) new settlement of lands or 2[plot of land];
(d) variation of revenue;
(e) alteration in the mode of cultivation, for example by a bargadar, and
(f) such other causes as necessitate a change in the record-of- rights.
[(2) For every mouza in any district for which computerisation of land-record has been completed, the original set of finally published record-of-rights prepared under section 51A for such mouza of such district shall be preserved, and a set of computerised print-out of the finally published record of such mouza, duly authenticated by the prescribed authority, shall be taken up for updating and for issue of certified copies through computer. Such computerised record-of-rights, duly authenticated by the prescribed authority, shall be presumed to be correct, and on a par with the original copy of record-of-rights.]
[Explanation. – For the purpose of this sub-section, the expression “duly authenticated” includes authentication by affixing digital signature made in accordance with the provisions of section 3 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000).]
Preparation or revision of record-of rights
CHAPTER VIII
[Management of lands]
[52. Management of lands.—(1) All lands to which this Act applies shall be deemed to have been held under the State on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed.
(2) Any land belonging to the State or land which is at the disposal of the State Government or held under the State by virtue of the provisions of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition Act, 1953 (West Bengal Act i of 1954), or this Act or any other law in force shall, unless the State Government otherwise directs by any general or special order, be managed, in such manner as may be prescribed, by the Collector of the district under whose jurisdiction the lands are situated[subject to the control of the State Government, particularly determination of terms and conditions of lease as may be specified in the lease deed and fixation of annual rent with or without premium.].
(3) If the State Government is of opinion that different sets of rules are necessary for the management of different classes or descriptions of lands or lands of different areas, it may make different sets of rules ‘ under this section.
(4) Until rules made under this section come into operation, management of any land covered by this Act shall continue to be made in accordance with the existing law or rules or manual or principles, whichever may apply.]
[52A. Provision for establishment of Government Company, etc.—The State Government may, while making rules under section 52, provide for the establishment of any Government Company or any cooperative society or any institution in the public interest for utilisation of any land.]
52B. Power to enter upon or take possession of land.– (1) No withstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force or in any custom, usage or contract or in any agreement, decree, order, decision or award of any court, tribunal or other authority, the State Government shall be entitled to enter upon and take possession of any land which is at the disposal of the State Government by evicting, if necessary, any person therefrom [by an order of the Revenue Officer, who shall use such force as may be required for the purpose of such eviction.
Explanation.—The expression ‘any land at the disposal of the State Government’ shall include any land of which any lease, or licence has been determined by the application of any law, by efflux of time, due to rescission of lease, leave or licence or due to violation of the terms of the lease, leave or licence, as the case may be, or for any other reason, and any land which has been abandoned by the lessee or licensee.
(2) The Revenue Officer may send a written requisition to the officer-in-charge of the local police station or to any police officer superior in rank to such officer-in-charge and on receipt of such written requisition, the police officer concerned shall render all necessary and lawful assistance for the purpose of enforcing delivery of possession of the land after evicting the person in actual occupation of such land.
CHAPTER IX
Miscellaneous
53-Delegation of powers by the State Government.—The State Government may by a notification in the Official Gazettedelegate any of the powers under sub-section (2A) of section 4, sub-section (2) of section 14U, section 22, section 39 and section 40 to be exercised by the prescribed authority subject to such reservation as may be specified in the notification.
[53A. Revenue Officer to be a necessary party in all suits, etc.—Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Act or in any law for the time being in force, the Revenue Officer having jurisdiction in the area in which any land is situated shall be a necessary party to all suits of a civil nature relating to any such land or portion thereof in which one of the parties to the suit is a member of any Scheduled Tribe and the other party is not a member of any Scheduled Tribe.]
54-Appeals.-(1) Subject to any special provisions for appeal made in this Act or in any rules made under this Act, an appeal shall lie in the manner indicated below
[(a) to a Collector, when the order is made by a Revenue Officer or revenue authority below the rank of a Collector;]
(b) to the Commissioner of the Division, when the order is made by the Collector of a district within the Division; and
[(c) xxx]
(2) Where, at the commencement of section 22 of the West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1971, any appeal is pending before the Member, Board of Revenue, such appeal shall, notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) be disposed of by such Member.
[(3) After any appeal is preferred to a Collector, he may transfer the appeal to any officer subordinate to him as may be prescribed :
Provided that the officer to whom the appeal is transferred is superior in rank or position to the officer or authority making the order appealed against.]
(4) An order passed in appeal shall be final.
[(5) Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Act, the State Government may, on its own motion, correct any erroneous decision passed Dy the Revenue Officer or by any officer in an appeal under the foregoing provisions of this section and any such order passed by the State Government shall be final and shall not be called in question in any court.]
55-Limitation for appeals.—Save as expressly provided in this Act or the rules made thereunder, the period of limitation for an appeal under section 54 shall run from the date of the order appealed against and shall be as follows, that is to say-
(a) when the appeal lies [to a Collector]—thirty days:
(b) when the appeal lies to the Commissioner of a Division—sixty days;
(c) [Omitted].
56-Power to enter upon land, to make survey, etc.—A Revenue Officer, or any officer authorised by him subject to any rules made under this Act, may at any time enter upon any land but not a dwelling house with such officers or other persons as he considers necessary, and make a survey or take measurement thereof or do any other acts which he considers to be necessary for carrying out any of his duties under this Act.
[57. Powers of officers dealing with proceedings under this Act.—Subject to the provisions of this Act and any rules made thereunder, any officer in dealing with proceedings under this Act shall exercise the powers of a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), for the purpose of—
(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath as a witness,
(b) requiring the discovery and production of any document or record,
(c) receiving evidence on affidavits,
(d) requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any Court or office,
(e) issuing commission for the examination of witnesses or documents,
(f) enforcing or executing orders including an order for restoration of possession as if such orders were decrees of a Civil Court, and
(g) remanding any case or proceedings to the officer from whose decree the appeal is preferred, and such officer shall record the substance of the evidence, if any, taken by him.]
[57A. Vesting of powers of Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.—The State Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, vest any officer or authority with all or any of the powers a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908).]
58-Protection of action taken under this Act.—(1) No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against any person for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act or any rules made thereunder.
(2) No suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against the State Government for any damage caused or likely to be caused or for any injury suffered or likely to be suffered by virtue of any provisions of this Act or by anything in good faith done of intended to be done in pursuance o’ this Act or any rules made thereunder.
59-Repeal.—Without prejudice to the provisions of clause (p) of section 2 of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition Act, 1953 (West Bengal Act No. 1 of 1954), the following Regulation and Acts are hereby repealed, namely:
(1) The Bengal Alluvion and Diluvion Regulation, 1825 (Bengal Regn. XI of 1825).
(2) The Bengal Alluvion and Diluvion Act, 1847 (IX of 1847).
(3) The Bengal Alluvion Land Settlement Act, 1858 (XXXI of 1858).
(4) The Bengal Rent Act, 1859 (X of 1859).
(5) The Bengal Tenancy Act, 1885 (VIII of 1885).
(6) The Cooch Bihar Tenancy Act, 1910 (Cooch Bihar Act No. 5 of 1910).
(7) The West Bengal bargadars Act, 1950 (West Bengal Act No. 3 of 1950).
Proviso [Omitted by West Bengal Land Reforms (Amending) Act, 1965 (West Bengal Act No. 18 of 1 165)].
60-Power to make rules.—(1) The State Government may, after previous publication, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act. (2) The rules so made shall have effect as if they were incorporated it this Act.
[61. Bar to jurisdiction of court.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) or any other law for the time being in force or in any decree, judgment, decision or award of any court, tribunal or authority, no court shall have jurisdiction to determine any question relating to any land or connected with any matter which is required to be or which has been enquired into or decided by any Revenue Officer or prescribed authority or any officer or authority under the provisions of this Act.
(2) Any Revenue Officer or prescribed authority or other officer or authority empowered under the provisions of this Act shall have exclusive jurisdiction to enquire into and decide any question relating to any land in connection with any matter which is required to be enquired into or decided by any prescribed authority or other officer or authority under the provisions of this Act.
(3) Nothing in sub-section (1) and sub-section (2) shall be deemed to affect any right which the parties to any dispute may otherwise have against each other.]
62. Power to State Government to give directions.—The State Government may give such directions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, to any Collector, Revenue Officer or prescribed authority under this Act as may appear to the State Government to be necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act or any rule made thereunder.
63. Repeal and savings.—(1) With effect from the date of coming into force of the West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1981 (West Bengal Act 50 of 1981) in any district or in any area of Calcutta, such provisions of the West Bengal Non-Agricultural Tenancy Act, 1949 (West Bengal Act No. 20 of 1949) as are repugnant to the provisions of this Act, shall cease to have effect in that district or area.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-section (1) any proceeding pending on the date of such coming into force before any authority appointed under the West Bengal Non-Agricultural Tenancy Act, 1949 or before any court shall be continued or disposed of as if the West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1981 had not come into force in that district or area.
List of amendments
- Affected Sections after Amendments of West Bengal Land Reforms Act 1955 after 14.3.2001
- West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 2003
- The West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 2010
- West Bengal Estate Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 2009
West Bengal Inland Fisheries Act
