WELCOME A.P.LAND REFORMS (Ceiling on Agrl. Holdings) ACT, 1973 B. VENKATESWARA RAO, District Revenue Officer (Retd.) CONSULTANT, AMR-APARD, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-500 030.

A.P.LAND REFORMS (Ceiling on Agrl. Holdings) ACT, 1973 The Act and Rules came into force from 1-1-1975 The Act contains 30 Sections and 2 Schedules The Rules framed are called A.P. Land Reforms (Ceiling on Agrl. Holdings) Rules 1974. Contd..

OBJECTIVES To impose ceiling on agricultural land holdings To ameliorate the conditions of the poor agriculturists. To curb the feudal tendencies of the land lords. Contd..

DEFINITIONS Tribunal : Presently RDO is constituted as Tribunal. Appellate Tribunal: District Judge Double Crop Wet Land : Any wet land registered as double crop or compounded double crop wet land in Land Revenue Records. [Section 3(d)] Dry Land : Land registered as dry, manavari etc., in Land Revenue Records [Section 3(e)] Family Unit : Individual, spouse, minor sons, unmarried minor daughters [Section 3(g)] Contd..

IMPORTANT PROVISIONS Standard Holding :- In the case of family unit consisting not more than (5) five members, it ranges from 10 to 27 acres in respect of wet lands and from 35 to 54 acres in respect of dry lands, based on the classification of lands in the first schedule as noted below : (Section 5) Double crop wet land Wet land Class A …. 10 Acres 15 Acres Class B …. 12 Acres 18 Acres Class C …. 13.5 Acres 20 Acres Class D …. 15 Acres 22.5 Acres Class E …. 16.5 Acres 25 Acres Class F …. 18 Acres 27 Acres Dry Class G …. 35 Acres Class H …. 40 Acres Class I …. 45 Acres Class J …. 50 Acres Class K …. 54 Acres Contd..

Ceiling Area : In the case of family unit consisting of not more than five members, an extent of land equal to one standard holding. In the case of family unit consisting of more than five members, land equal to one standard holding plus one fifth of standard holding for every additional member, not exceeding two standard holdings (Section 4(1) and (2)) Declaration of Holding: Under Section 8 every person whose holding on the notified date exceeds the specified limits shall within thirty days from the notified date furnish a declaration to the Tribunal. Contd..

Determination of Ceiling Area: The Tribunal has to publish the declaration make an enquiry and pass orders, determining whether the person holds land in excess of the ceiling area and if so, the excess area (Section 9). Surrender of Land : Person holding land in excess of ceiling limit is liable to surrender the land held in excess and the tribunal, after making enquiry pass orders approving the surrender or otherwise. (Section 10) Contd..

Special Provisions for Protected Tenants : When holding of any owner includes land held by a protected tenant, tribunal to determine whether it is transferred to protected tenant U/s 38-E of Andhra Pradesh (Telangana Area) Tenancy and Agricultural Land Act, 1950. If so, extent of land transferred to be excluded from the holding of such owner and included in the holding of such tenant (Section 13). Contd..

Disposal of Land vested in Government: Lands vested in Government are to be allotted for house sites for agricultural labourers etc., or transferred to weaker sections dependent on agriculture for agricultural purposes (Half of total extent to SCs and STs and not less than two thirds of balance extent to BCs. [Section 14(1)]. Every allottee / transferee to pay fifty times the land revenue within fifteen years, subject to a maximum of Rs.1250/- per hectare of wet land and Rs.375/- per hectare of dry land. Thereafter, patta is to be granted. Contd..

Maximum extent to be allotted for house site five cents. [Rule 10(2)] For Agricultural purpose – Ac 2-50 wet or Ac 5-00 dry. [Rule 10(2)] Transferee shall not alienate the land by sale, gift, lease etc., [Section 14(4)] Resumption of land in case of violation of conditions : If the conditions of allotment / transfer are violated, the RDO shall resume the land after giving an opportunity to the persons affected and making an enquiry. [Section 14(5)] Contd..

Declaration of future acquisition: In respect of acquisition on or after notified date, exceeding ceiling area declaration is to be furnished. (Section 18) Declaration to be furnished before Registering Officer : Any person presenting a document of alienation of land before Registering Officer is to furnish a declaration that the holding of transfer does not exceed the ceiling area. ( Section 19). Contd..

Appeal: Appeal lies to Appellate Tribunal within thirty days Appeal: Appeal lies to Appellate Tribunal within thirty days. (Section 20) Revision: Revision lies to the High Court against the orders of the Appellate Tribunal within sixty days. (Section 21 and Rule 17) Exemptions: Lands held by State and Central Governments, religious, charitable and educational institutions, local authorities, Government Corporations etc., exempted from provisions of Act. (Section 23) Contd..

Penalty: Persons who failed to file declarations within the prescribed period liable for imprisonment upto two years or with fine upto Rs.2000/- or with both. (Section 24) Prosecution to be sanctioned by District Collector. [Section 24(4)]

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