(Assented to by the Governor on the 12th January, 1959)

(2)

It extends to the whole of the State of Orissa.

(3)

This section shall come into force at once. The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that all or any of the remaining provisions of this Act shall come into force in such area and on such date as may be specified in the notification.

NOTES

The Act is one to consolidate and amend the Iaws relating to survey, record-of-rights and settlement in the State of Orissa. It is in six chapters. Chapter-I deals with preliminary, Chapter-II with Survey, Chapter-III with record-of-rights, Chapter-IV with settlement of rent, Chapter-V with jurisdiction and procedure and Chapter-VI with the miscellaneous.

 

In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context-

(1)

"Agricultural year" means the year as specified in the Tenancy Laws in force or in the absence of any such laws, as may be prescribed by the Government in respect of different districts or localities according to local custom or usage;

1[(2)

"Assistant Settlement Officer" means any officer appointed as such by the Board of Revenue ;]

1[(3)

"Chief Survey Officer" means any officer appointed as such by Government and includes an Additional Chief Survey Officer appointed by Government ;]

(4)

"Government" means the State Government of Orissa;

(5)

"Landlord" means a persons immediately under whom1[a tenant holds land] and includes the Government;

(6)

"Prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

1[(7)

"Record-of-rights" means the record-of-rights prepared" under this Act

(8)

"Rent" means whatever is lawfully payable or deliverable in cash or in kind or partly in cash and partly in kind by a tenant to his landlord on account of the use or occupation of the land held by him. It shall also include money recoverable under any enactment for the time being in force as if it were rent;

(9)

"Revenue Court" means any Court (other than Civil Court) having jurisdiction under this Act to entertain suits or other proceedings;

1[(10)

"Settlement Officer" means any Officer appointed as such by Government and includes an Additional Settlement Officer appointed by Government ;]

(11)

"Survey" includes all or any of the operations incidental to the determination, measurement and record or a boundary or boundaries or any part of a boundary and includes re-survey;

(12)

"Survey mark" means any mark or object erected, made, employed or specified a by a Survey Officer to indicate or determine or assist in determining the position or level of any point or points;

(13)

"Survey Officer" means any person appointed to be a Survey Officer under Section 4 ;

1[(13-a)

"Tenant" means a person who holds land under another person and is or,but for a special contract would be liable to pay rent for that land to that person ;]

1[(14)

"Village" means any tract of land which has been recognized as a village in the revenue records or which the Board of Revenue may, from time to time, declare to be a village ;]

(15)

Words and expressions used in this Act but not defined shall have the same meaning as assigned to them in the Tenancy Act or Laws, Rules, Regulations, custom or usage in force in any part of the State of Orissa.

1[( 1)

The Government or subject to their control any Officer or Authority empowered by Government may, at any time, by notification, order a survey to be made of any land if the State or the boundary thereof.]

(2)

The Government shall be competent at any time during the continuance of the proceedings of any survey to issue an order to stop such survey and, if subsequently so ordered, such proceeding shall be proceeded with from such stage as may be directed.

The Government may also issue a notification ordering a survey:

(a)	on the request of
(i)	any local authority; or
(ii)	other persons;

who agree to pay such amount as may be directed by the Government towards the cost of survey; or

(b)

where in any local area not less than one-half of the total number of raiyats apply for the survey, depositing or giving security for such amount towards the payment of expenses as the Government may direct.

( 1)

The 1[Board of Revenue,] may, by notification appoint any 1[ xxxxxxx ] officer or person either by name or by virtue of his office to be a Survey Officer for all or any of the purposes of this Act.

(2)

Subject to the control of the 2[Board of Revenue] 1[ xxxx ] every officer or person so appointed shall exercise and perform the powers and duties of a Survey Officer within such local limits as the 2[Board of Revenue] may direct.

(3)

1[ xxxx ]

(4)

The survey shall be conducted in such manner as may be prescribed by the Government.

(1)

When any survey is ordered under Section 3, the Survey Officer shall publish a proclamation in the prescribed manner inviting all persons having interest in the land or in the boundaries of which the survey has been ordered, to attend either in person or by agent at a specified place and from time to time thereafter, when called upon for the purpose of pointing out boundaries and supplying information in connection therewith.

(2)

Such proclamation to be valid notice to person interested-A proclamation published under Sub-section (1) shall be held to be a valid notice to every person having any interest in the land, or in the boundaries of which the survey has been ordered.

(1)

After the issue of the proclamation under Sub-section (1) of Section 5, the Survey Officer or his subordinates or any other officer acting under the authority of the Survey Officer shall have power to enter upon the land under survey, examine and measure such land and clear by cutting down of removing any trees, jungle, fences, standing crops or other material obstructions to the boundaries or other lines, the clearance of which may be necessary for the purposes of the survey.

(2)

Compensation
The Survey Officer shall, after assessing the occasioned by any clearance as is mentioned in Sub-section(1) , offer reasonable compensation to the owners of the materials so cleared.

1[(3)

Powers of Survey Officer to determine and record disputed boundary-
Any person aggrieved by a decision under Sub-section (2) may, within thirty days from the date of such decision, prefer an appeal to the prescribed authority.]

The Survey Officer shall prepare a draft survey record which shall comprise

(2)

When a draft survey record has been prepared, the Survey Officer shall publish the same in the prescribed manner and for the prescribed period and shall receive and consider any objections which may be made to any entry therein or to any omission there from during the period of publication.]

 

An appeal, if, presented within thirty days from the date of the order appealed against, shall Iie to the Chief Survey Officer from every order passed by the Survey Officer on any objection made under Section 6-A.]

(1)

When all such objections and appeals, if any, have been disposed of, the Survey Officer shall finally frame the survey record incorporating all such alterations as may be necessary to give effect to the orders passed on such objections and appeals and shall cause it to be finally published in the prescribed manner, and the publication shall be conclusive evidence that the record has been duly made under this Chapter.]

(2)

Separate drafts and final records may be published for different local areas or parts thereof.

After a survey record has been finally published, the Board of Revenue shall, by notification, declare that such record has been finally published, and such notification shall be conclusive proof of such publication.]

(1)

Subject to such conditions as may be prescribed in this behalf, every person interested in the land shall be bound to maintain, renew and repair the survey marks on or within the boundaries of his holding and in default of his doing so, the Collector may, at the cost of the Government maintain, renew and repair such survey marks, determine and apportion the cost of so doing, and recover such costs as a public demand or arrear of land revenue, as the case may be.

(2)

Before the Collector renews or repairs any survey marks, he shall serve a notice in writing on the cultivator or other person interested in the prescribed manner intimating him the action proposed to be taken by him specifying the time fixed for such action.

(1)

The whole or such portion of the costs as may be ordered in respect of survey made on the application of parties under Sub-section (3) of Section 3 shall be borne by , them:
Provided that where the application is made under Clause (b) of the said sub-section, the amount recoverable under this section shall be recovered from all the raiyats of the local area including the applicants.

(2)

The Government may prescribe the manner in which such costs shall be assessed. The costs so assessed shall be 1(recoverable as arrears of land revenue].

3[(1)

The Government may in any case if they think fit, make an order directing that a record-of-rights be prepared in respect of lands in any local area in the State.)

(b)

on the request of not less than one half of the total number of raiyats having land in the village and on their depositing such amount for payment of expenses as the Government may direct.

(3)

A notification in the Gazette of an order under this section shall be conclusive evidence that the order has been duly made, 2[ x x x ].

3[(4)

When an order is made under Sub-section (1) the Assistant Settlement Officer shall proceed to prepare the record-of-rights in the prescribed manner"].

1[(6)

For the purpose of preparation

(a)	the khewat which shall show the character and extent of proprietary interests and may also show the particulars of other rent receiving interests; and
(b)	the khatian which shall show such details as may be prescribed.]

of record-of-rights in respect of any local area, there shall be prepared in the prescribed manner a map showing, as far as may be, all such particulars as may be considered necessary for the purpose and the record-of-rights so prepared shall be in conformity with the map:
Provided that in the event of any conflict between prepared and the survey map previously prepared under the provisions of Chapter-II, the former shall prevail:]

An appeal, if presented within thirty days from the date of the order appealed against, shall lie from every order passed by the Assistant Settlement Officer under Section 12 to the Settlement Officer or to any other officer especially empowered by the Government in this behalf.]

(1)

When all such objections and appeals are disposed of, the Assistant Settlement Officer shall finally frame the record-of-rights incorporating all such alterations as may be necessary to give effect to the orders passed on such objections and appeals and shall cause it to be finally published in the prescribed manner and such publication shall be conclusive evidence that the record has been duly made under this Chapter.

(2)

Separate drafts and final records may be published for different local areas or parts thereof.]

1[(1)

Any record-of-rights prepared and finally published under this Chapter or a certified copy thereof or extract there from shall be conclusive evidence of such publication.

(2)

The Government may by notification declare with regard to land in any local area or village that record-of-rights has been finally published and such notification shall be conclusive evidence of such publication.]

(3)

Every entry in a record-of-rights so published shall be evidence of the matter referred to in such entry and shall be presumed to be correct until it is proved by evidence to be incorrect:
Provided that, if any entry in a record-of-rights is altered in a subsequent record-of-rights,the later entry shall be presumed to be correct until it is proved by evidence to be incorrect, but the previous entry shall be admissible as evidence of the facts existing at the time such entry was made.

The Board of Revenue may in any case direct

(a)

of its own motion the revision of any record-of-rights, or any portion of a record-of-rights, at any time after the date of final publication under 2[Section 12-B] but not so to affect any order passed by a Civil Court under Section 2[42] ;

3[(b)

on application made within one year from the date of final publication under Section 12-B the revision of record-of-rights or any portion thereof whether within the said period of one year or thereafter but not so as to affect any order passed by a Civil Court under Section 42 :]
Provided that no such direction shall be made until reasonable opportunity has been given to the parties concerned to appear and be heard in the matter.

In order to keep the map and the record of rights up- to- date same shall be maintained in accordance with such rules as may bre prescribed in that behalf.]

(1) The cost of operation of record-of-rights on an application made under Sub-section (2) of Section 11 or such portion thereof may be ordered shall be borne by the applicant:
Provided that where the application is made under Clause (b) of the said sub-section, the amount recoverable under this section shall be recovered from all the raiyats of the village including the applicants.

(2)

The Government may prescribe the manner in which such cost shall be assessed. The cost assessed shall be irrecoverable as arrears of land revenue.]

(1)

The Government may at any time direct 1[the settlement of] rent in respect of land situated in any village or local area for which a record-of-rights has already been finally published.

(b)

on the request of not less than one-half of the total number of raiyats having land in any local area on their depositing such amount for payment of expenses as the Government may direct.

(3)

All amounts payable under Clause (a) of Sub-section (2) shall be 1[recoverable as arrears of land revenue.)

The Government may prescribe the principles for fixing fair and equitable rent for any land used for agriculture having regard to

(a)	the average price of crops, during the preceding ten years other than the years which the Government may notify to be or to have been either famine years or abnormal years in respect of any local area;
(b)	the crop or crops normally grown on such land;
(c)	the situation of the land and the nature of the soil; and
(d)	the maximum rent assessed on land of similar quality and productivity elsewhere in the State.)

Explanation-For the purpose of this sub-section

(a)

"agriculture" includes raising of crops, grass or garden produce, horticulture or use of land as pasture or forest or for any other purpose ancillary to agriculture other than residential purpose;

(b)

the cultivable waste land of a tenant shall be deemed to be land used for agriculture; and

(c)

the crop or crops, which could have been grown in any land referred to in the preceding clause or in any land which is used for any purpose ancillary to agriculture shall be deemed to be the crop or crops normally grown on such land.

(3)

The rent so fixed shall be deemed to be the rent payable, for the land:
Provided that Government may subject to such conditions as they may impose, direct remission or reduction of the fair and equitable rent so fixed ini respect of any land which is owned by any religious or charitable institution of a public nature and is utilised for the promotion of education, health, culture, fine arts, sports or games for social welfare.

(4)

The provisions of this section shall have effect, notwithstanding anything contained in any law, custom or contract for the time being in force.

When an order is made under Section 18, the Assistant Settlement Officer shall fix the fair and equitable rent in the prescribed manner.]

1[(1)

When rent has been fixed, the Assistant Settlement Officer shall prepare a Settlement Rent Roll containing such particulars as may be prescribed and shall cause the same to be published in the prescribed manner and for the prescribed period and shall receive and consider any objections which may be made to any entry therein or omission therefrom during the period of publication.

(2)

The Assistant Settlement Officer may, of his own or on the application of any party aggrieved,at any time before a settlement roll is submitted to the Settlement Officer under Section 22, revise the rent entered therein:
Provided that no such revision shall be made until reasonable opportunity has been given to the parties concerned to appear and be heard in the matter.

(1)

When all such objections have been disposed of, the Assistant Settlement Officer shall submit the Settlement Rent Roll to the Settlement Officer with full statements on the grounds of his proposals of his proposals and a summary of the objections, if any, received by him:

(3)

The Settlement Officer may sanction the said Roll with or without amendment or may return the same for revision by the Assistant Settlement Officer.

(4)

No modification or amendment or revision shall be made under Sub-section (2) or, as the case may be, Sub-section (3) until reasonable opportunity has been given to the parties concerned to appear and be heard in the matter.

(1)

After sanction of the Settlement Rent Roll, the Assistant Settlement Officer shall incorporate the settled rent in the record-of-rights, make such amendments or alterations in the said record and the map, if any, and shall cause a fresh copy of the record-of-rights to be finally published in the prescribed manner.

(2)

Such publication shall be conclusive evidence that the rent has been duly settled under this Chapter and the record-of-rights so published shall be deemed to be the record-of-rights published under Section 12-B.]

Subject to the provisions of Sections 2[25 and 42] ; all rents settled under Sections [20, 21 and 22] and incorporated in a record-of-rights finally 1[published under Section 23] shall be deemed to have been correctly settled and to be fair and equitable rent within the meaning of this Act.

When any rent is settled 1[x x x] under this Chapter it shall take effect from the beginning of the agricultural year next after the date of sanction l[x x x] under 4[Sub-section (3)] of Section 22:
Provided that the Government may prescribe an earlier date from which such settlement shall take effect and that such date shall not be earlier than the date of notification under Section 18.

(1)

All authorities hearing an application,appeal or revision under any of the provisions of this Act shall do so as Revenue Courts

(2)

Save as otherwise provided in this Act when an order has been made under Sections 3, 11, 18 or 36 no Court shall entertain any application or suit in respect of any matter for determining or deciding which provisions made in the Act and all proceedings in respect of any such matter pending on the date, such order is made shall be stayed till the final publication of records under Sections 6-C, 12-B or 23 as the case may be.]

(3)

2[x x x ]

The Government may from time to time make rules consistent with this Act declaring that any provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, shall not apply to applications, appeals or other proceedings under this Act in any Revenue Court or to any specified classes of such applications, appeals or shall apply to them subject to modification and additions specified in the rules.

(1)

The 1[Settlement Officer] may by written order, dispute in such manner as appears to him fit any business cognizable under this Act by any 3Assistant Settlement Officer] and by like order he may withdraw any case pending before such 3[Officer] and either dispose of the same himself or by written order refer it for disposal to any other 3[Assistant Settlement Officer).

The Board of Revenue may call for the record of any Proceeding 1[any Officer] from whose decision no appeal lies if such Officer appears to have exercised a jurisdiction not vested in him by law or to have failed to exercise a jurisdiction so vested or while acting in the exercise of his jurisdiction to have contravened some express provision of law affecting the decision on the merits where such contravention has produced a serious miscarriage of justice and the Board of Revenue after hearing the parties if they attend, shall pass such order as it deems fit.