CHHATTISGARH LAND REVENUE CODE: REVENUE SURVEY

SUBMITTED TO: MS. SONAL DAS

( FACULTY: LAND LAWS)

SUBMITTED BY: GARGI WHORRA

ROLL NO. 45
SECTION B
SEMESTER VIII
LAND LAWS - PROJECT

HIDAYATULLAH NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY, RAIPUR

CHHATTISGARH.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

At the outset, I would like to place on record my deepest sense of gratitude to my teacher and
mentor Ms. Sonal Das, who inculcated in me a taste for the subject and its different dimensions
which affect the common man. In this backdrop I feel privileged to get a topic from my esteemed
teacher which I find very important and relevant.
I want to express my sincere thanks to my parents who kept me updated on this subject and
helped me in getting deeper insights to this important and relevant topic. I borrowed much
information from important national and international books and periodicals and in my search for
related topics I had to rely on the materials available on the net. I extend my sincere gratitude to
all the sources from where I collected the relevant information for preparing this paper.

GARGI WHORRA
SEMESTER VIII

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND OBJECTIVES...........................................................4

OBJECTIVES...........................................................4

II

INTRODUCTION..............5

III

MEANING OF REVENUE SURVEY......................................5

IV

PROCEDURAL PREREQUISITE: NOTIFICATION.........................................7

POWER

BESTOWED

ON

THE

SETTLEMENT

OFFICER

FOR

REVENUE

SURVEY.........7
I) RULES TO FACILITATE FORMATION OF SURVEY NUMBERS AND

VILLAGES.7
II) RULES TO FACILITATE DIVISION OF SURVEY NUMBERS.......11
III)

RULES TO FACILITATE REVENUE SURVEY OF AGRICULTURAL AND NON-

AGRICULTURAL LAND .......................12

VI

FACILITATING GROUPING OF VILLAGES........14

VII

CONCLUSION..15

VIII

REFERENCES..16

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The researcher has based her research on doctrinal sources of information comprising of books,
notification as well as Internet. The topic being contemporary as well comprehended through the
faculty in-charge has been extensively researched upon so as to accomplish the goal of
completion of the current project report.

OBJECTIVES

To understand the meaning of revenue survey.

To assess the manner of revenue survey as per CGLRC.
To study the various notifications to facilitate revenue survey.
To understand the role of the officials in revenue survey.

INTRODUCTION
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Land is a limited and essential resource which has to be utilized in a manner so as t maximize its
use while keeping every persons interest. Land being a limited resource raises inherent conflicts
of interest and cannot be used in a manner that the reach and powerful are able to super cede the
needs of the less rich and poorer strata of society. Thus all land, to whatever purpose applied and
wherever situated, is the asset and responsibility of the State Government and is liable to
payment of revenue to the State Government, except such land as has been wholly exempted
from such liability by special grant of or contract with the State Government is liable to payment
of revenue to the state Government or under the provisions of any law or rule for the time being
in force. Such revenue is called Land Revenue; and that term includes all moneys payable to
the State Government for land, notwithstanding that such moneys may be described as premium,
rent lease money, quit-rent or in any other manner, in any enactment, rule, contract or deed. The
Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code 1959 provides the fulcrum law for land revenue, its collection,
management and every other aspect related to land revenue. The project is going to deal in detail
with one such aspect which has been dealt by the Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code which is
revenue survey and is dealt by Chapter VI Part B from Section 66 to 74.
MEANING OF REVENUE SURVEY
Revenue survey has been defined by Section 66 of CGLRC in an inclusive manner to include the
operations carried out in accordance with the provision of Chapter 7 Part B which are primarily:
i)

All or any of the operations pertaining to the division of land into survey numbers and
grouping them into villages, recognition of existing survey numbers, reconstitution

ii)
iii)
iv)

thereof or forming new survey numbers and operations incidental thereto;

Soil classification;
Preparation or as the case maybe revision or correction of field map;
Preparation of record of rights, in order to bring the land records upto date in any
local, over area.

The definition deals with All or any of the operations pertaining to the division of land into
survey numbers and grouping them into villages, recognition of existing survey numbers,
reconstitution thereof or forming new survey numbers and operations incidental thereto Soil
classification, Preparation or as the case maybe revision or correction of field map and
preparation of record of rights, in order to bring the land records upto date in any local, over
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area. Thus it is important to understand what is survey numbers and field maps. Survey number
are a portion of the land in non-urban area formed into or recognized as a survey number at the
last preceding revenue survey or subsequently recognized as such by the Collector in respect of
which the area and land revenue payable are separately entered under an indicative number in the
land records and includes, any portion of land entered in the land records under an indicative
number known as the khasra number.1
Field map has been defined by Section 107 of the CGLRC as a map prepared showing the
boundaries of survey numbers or plot numbers and waste lands for every village except
otherwise directed by the State Government. They may be prepared for the abadi of each village
a map showing the area occupied by private holders, and the area not so occupied and such other
particulars as may be prescribed. Furthermore if the State Government considers that in the case
of any village it is necessary to show in the map prepared the plots occupied by private holders,
it may direct the Collector to get the map so prepared or revised. Collector is empowered to
revise or correct the field map after consideration of the matter on merits. The term revise means
primarily to review or re-examine, to correct or to amend the fault as has been held in Shivnath
Prasad Srivastava v Board of Revenue.2
The Gram Panchayat may also pass a resolution that a map of the village abadi should be
prepared showing separately the plots occupied by private holders and is willing to contribute to
the cost of the survey operations in such proportions as may be prescribed the State Government
may undertake the preparation of the map. Such map shall be prepared or revised as the case may
be by the Settlement Officer at revenue survey and by the collector at all other times and in all
other circumstances.
PROCEDURAL PREREQUISITE: NOTIFICATION
Notification is necessary whenever the State Government decides that a revenue survey should
be made of any local area as specified by Section 67 of the CGLRC. The notification shall be
compulsorily published to that effect and such local area shall be held to be under such survey
from the date of such notification. Moreover the notification will continue to be in effect until
1 Section 2(x).
2 M.P. 2002 (2) MPHT 459 (MP) (Jabalpur).
6

there is an issue of a notification declaring the operation to be closed. The extent of such
notification may be to all lands generally in the local areas or to such lands only as the State
Government may direct. It is important that a particular notification be served for a proposed
revenue survey by the State Government. Section 67 of the CGLRC provides for the
requirements of this particular notification.
POWERS BESTOWED ON SETTLEMENT OFFICER FOR REVENUE SURVEY
1) For the formation of survey numbers and villages, Section 68 bestows certain powers on the
Settlement Officer. The Settlement officer may take measurements of the land to which the
revenue survey extends and construct such number of survey marks thereon as necessary.
Furthermore the Settlement Officer may divide such lands into survey numbers and group the
survey numbers into villages. He may also recognize existing survey numbers, reconstitute
survey numbers or form new survey numbers. However this particular power comes with a
proviso primarily providing that except as hereinafter provided, no survey numbers, comprising
land used for agricultural purposes shall henceforth be made of less extent than a minimum to be
prescribed for the various classes of land. It is also further provided that the limit prescribed
herein shall not apply in the case of survey numbers already existing immediately before the date
of notification under sub-section (1) of Section 67.3
RULES TO FACILITATE FORMATION OF SURVEY NUMBERS
AND VILLAGES
Rules under section 68 regarding formation of survey numbers and villages was issued by
notification dated 6-1-1960. The rule cull out the exception as to when these khasra numbers and
survey numbers as they stand the same way unless their renumbering is considered necessary in
which case they shall be renumbered afresh. The numbers to be retained or altered shall be
known as survey numbers. Furthermore if the survey numbers dont match on the field map then
the map shall be altered in accordance with the boundary agreed on by the parties concerned or
as determined under Section 125 of the Code. However even if renumbering is not considered
necessary no new survey numbers shall be formed except in the following cases:

3 Section 68
7

i)

Where the land is taken up for special purposes such as public buildings and purposes

ii)
iii)
iv)

specified under section 237(1).

Where unoccupied lands are given for cultivation.
Where unoccupied lands are brought under survey for the first time
Where survey numbers exceeding 30 acres or such areas as may be notified for a

v)

particular tract are divided into two or more survey numbers to reduce their area.
No survey numbers consisting of land to be used for agricultural purposes only shall
henceforth be formed with less than such area as the State Government may by
notification specify for different tracts in the State provided that in case of land
acquired for public purposes or set aside for special purposes the minimum area of a

new survey numbers shall be one acre.

Furthermore two or more occupied survey numbers may be amalgamated provided the following
conditions are satisfied:
1. The total area does not exceed 30 acres or where one of the numbers to be amalgamated is
than five acres in area, 40 acres;
2. The tenure holder or tenure holders of each survey number are the same and agree to
amalgamation;
3. There are no sub-divisions;
4. The common boundary is such that the amalgamation will materially facilitate cultivation
provided that the limits imposed by or under condition 1 may be exceeded to such extent as
the Settlement Commissioner may by general or special order sanction.
The combined survey number shall be given the numbers of all the survey numbers which have
been amalgamated to form it. Survey numbers may be cancelled only when they cease to be a
part of the village area. Two or more adjoining unoccupied survey numbers may be amalgamated
when they are reserved under sub-section 1 of Section 237 for the same purpose.
When two or more villages are to be amalgamated the following conditions are to be satisfied:
i)
They should be adjacent;
ii)
The village sites or abadis adjoin or there is only one village site or abadi and the
iii)

other villages are uninhabited; and

Communal rights over unoccupied lands are enjoyed in common by cultivators of all
the villages.
Provided that the total area of the new village formed after amalgamation shall not
ordinarily exceed 2000 acres except when the area of the smaller villages is less tha

200 acres.
On amalgamation of villages the survey number of the largest inhabited village shall be retained
and those of the other villages renumbered starting from the number next to the last number of

the largest inhabited village, the cancelled numbers being shown in brackets below the new
numbers unless the Settlement Officer considers renumbering of the survey numbers necessary
in which case he shall renumber them in one new series.
A village may also be divided into two or more villages provided one or more of the following
conditions are satisfied:
i)
The areas of the existing village is too big to be conveniently manageable as a single
ii)

unit;
Communal rights are enjoyed over unoccupied lands situated in district are separate

iii)

units;
In the case of an existing village comprised partly or wholly of old uninhabited

villages, one or more such villages has developed into a stable inhabited areas;
iv)
There are other reasons of a similar nature.
No division shall be allowed resulting in the formation of an area of less than 200 acres. On the
division of a village into two or more villages the survey number of the newly formed villages
shall be renumbered starting form No. 1 in each case, the cancelled numbers being shown in
brackets below the new numbers.
2) When any portion of agricultural land is diverted under the provisions of Section 172 to any nonagricultural purpose, or when any portion of land is specially assigned under Section 237, or
when any assessment is altered on any portion of land under sub-section (2) of Section 59, the
Settlement Officer may make such portion into separate survey number or sub-division of a
survey number. 4
Section 172 primarily deals with the procedure manner applicable to diversion of land as
applicable in the State of Chhattisgarh. Furthermore even Section 237 deals with diversion of
land but for a specific section of people for exercising their nistar rights. The State has given
reasons that in view of large scale of poor population and to reach the poorest of the poor and the
landless persons it had become necessary to reduce the land and divert it. Section 237 provides
that subject to the rules made under this code, the collector may set apart unoccupied land for the
purpose of timber or fuel reserve, for pasture, grass bir or fodder reserve, for burial/cremation
grounds, for gaothan, for encamping ground, for threshing floor, for bazaar, for skinning ground,
manure pits, for public purposes such as schools, play grounds, parks road, lanes drains and the
like and for any other purpose which may be prescribed for the exercise of right of Nistar. Such
4 Section 69.
9

land is not to be diverted without the sanction of the Collector. Furthermore as seen in Smt.
Rukmani Bai and ors. v . Chunnilal and others 5 no individual can individually enjoy land for
Nistari rights for his exclusive own use. These rights belong to all the inhabitants of the village
as it is a collectively enjoyed right.
Section 59 deals with variation of land revenue according to purpose for which lad is used. Sub
section 2 of Section 59 thus states that where land assessed for use for any one purpose is
diverted to any other purpose, the land revenue payable upon such land shall, notwithstanding
that the term for which the assessment may have been fixed has not expired be liable to be
altered and assessed in accordance with the purpose to which it has been diverted.
3) The Settlement Officer further has the power to renumber or subdivide survey numbers. He may
either re-number or sub-divide survey numbers into as many sub-divisions as may be required in
view of the acquisitions of rights in land or for any other reason. Furthermore the division of
survey numbers into sub-divisions and the apportionment of the assessment of the survey
number amongst the sub-divisions shall be carried out in accordance with the rules made under
the Code and such rules may provide limits either of area or of land revenue or both, below
which no sub-division shall be recognized. However provided that the total amount of
assessment of any survey number shall not be enhanced during the tem of a settlement unless
such assessment is liable to alteration under the provisions of this Code. Where a holding
consists of several khasra numbers the Settlement Officer shall assess the land revenue payable
for each khasra number and record them a separate survey numbers. Whenever the survey
numbers are re-numbered the Settlement Officer shall correct the entries in all records prepared
or maintained under Chapter IX.6
RULES MADE TO FACILITATE DIVISION OF SURVEY NUMBER
Rules made under section 70 regarding division of survey numbers into sub-divisions and
apportionment of the assessment was made by a notification dated 6-1-1960. For every portion
of a survey number which is held under a separate title shall be formed into sub-divisions
5 2011 (4) M.P.H.T. 251.
6 Section 70.
10

provided that no such sub-division shall be formed with an area of less than 0.05 acre or land
revenue less than 5 naya paisa if the land is used for the purpose of agriculture. Moreover with
an area of less than 100 square feet or land revenue less than 5 naya paisa if the land is used fo
any other purpose except where a portion of unoccupied land belonging to Government is settled
with the holder of the land adjoining it.
Alluvial land lawfully occupied by a person other than the Bhumiswami of the adjoining land
shall be formed into a sub-division. However if the area of such land exceeds one acre and is in
the occupation of the Bhumiswami of the adjoining land, it shall be formed into a sub-division
and included in the survey number.
Two or more adjoining sub-divisions in a survey number may be amalgamated when they are
held by the same holder under the same tenure. Unculturable land shall be distributed amongst
the several sub-divisions as agreed on by the Bhumiswami. If such land is held in joint
possession, it shall, unless it is a road or a nalla, be formed into a separate unassessed subdivision.
The assessment of a survey number shall be distributed over its sub-divisions as agreed on by the
Bhumiswamis or where there is any dispute, in accordance with the area and soil classification of
the various sub-divisions. On revision the new assessment shall be distributed over the subdivisions in the same manner as the old assessment.
RULES TO FACILITATE REVENUE SURVEY OF AGRICULTURAL
AND NON-AGRICULTURAL LAND
4) The area and assessment of survey numbers and sub-divisions be of survey numbers shall be
entered in such records as may be prescribed. 7 Rules made under section 71 regarding revenue
survey of agricultural land had been provided for by a notification dated 6-1-1960. It firstly
provided for the assessment of agricultural lands where the land records staff of the tahsil under
revenue survey was placed under the control of the Settlement officer and with the sanction of
Settlement Commissioner, the Settlement officer may appoint additional staff. The Settlement
officer shall carry out a survey, re-survey or map correction of such villages covered by
notification under Section 70 as are in need of such a survey, re-survey or map correction. In
making such a decision he shall have regard of the current map and relevant circumstances. The
7 Section 71
11

survey shall be carried out to such an extent and in such a manner as may be directed by the
Settlement Commissioner. The original measurement made by the subordinate survey staff shall
be tested by the Officer in charge of the measuring establishment. The area and the revised
assessment of survey numbers and sub-divisions shall be entered in the Field Book and also in
the record of rights.
New roads that have come into existence, topographical features such as hillocks, trees, wells,
tanks, nallas, rivers, railway lines, temples and houses etc shall be shown in the map. During
such revenue survey the Settlement Officer shall also measure the abadi area and area ancillary
to it. Lands set aside for the purpose specified in Section 237(1) shall be given separate survey
numbers.
The soil classification if already made at the preceding revenue survey shall not normally be
changed except for valid reasons. De novo soil classification should normally be avoided. If the
land assessed has not been classified previously or even if classified previously has to be
classified again because of change in irrigation facilities or for other reasons, the classification or
the re-classification as the case may be, shall be made having regard to the productive capacity
as judged by its depth, quality of soil and such other factors as directed to be considered.
Furthermore if any advantage or disadvantage arises while seeing the soil classification it shall
be taken into consideration.
The basis on which the assessment of non-agricultural lands shall be worked out will be the
estimated rental values of non-agricultural lands in the village. Furthermore to estimate the
figures of rental value correctly, the Settlement officer shall consider the freehold values of nonagricultural lands separately for sites of dwelling, sites for the purposes other than agriculture,
dwelling, industry or commerce and sites for industrial and commercial purposes on the basis of
transactions that have taken place during the twenty years preceding the year of enquiry. After
the freehold value of non-agricultural land in a village is determined, the Settlement Officer shall
work out the figure of the rental value per 10 sq. meters by calculating it at six naya paisa in the
rupee on the normal freehold value of the land in the village.
The notification also provides for manner of announcement of settlement and that the State
Government or with their concurrence, the Settlement Commissioner may issue such instructions
as may be necessary to carry out the operations of revenue survey contemplated by the rules.
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5) The Settlement Officer further has the power to determine the Abadi of a village. He shall in the
case of every inhabited village ascertain and determine with due regard to the rights in the lands,
the area to be reserved for the residence of the inhabitants or for the purposes ancillary thereto,
and such area shall be deemed to be the abadi of the village.8
Abadi has been defined by the CGLRC in Section 2(a) as the area reserved from time to time in a
village in a non-urban area for residence of the inhabitants thereof or for purposes ancillary
thereto and any other local equivalent of this expression such as a village site or gaonsthan shall
be construed accordingly. Land can be reserved for abadi if the land is insufficient according to
the discretion of the Collector or else the State Government can acquire land if it is not available
for the extension of abadi.9
6) More so the Settlement officer has the power to divide or unite villages or exclude area there
from. The Settlement Office may divide a village to constitute two o more villages or may
amalgamate two or more villages and constitute one village o may alter the limits of a village by
including therein any area of a village in the vicinity thereof o by excluding any area comprised
therein, in accordance with the rules made under the CGLRC.10
FACILITATING GROUPING OF VILLAGES
Village has been defined by the CGLRC as any tract of land which before the coming into force
of this code was recognized as or declared as a village under the provisions of any law for the
time being in force and any other tract of land which is hereafter recognised as a village at any
revenue survey or which the State Government may, by notification declare to be a village. 11 The
villages of each district or tahsil or part of a district or tahsil comprised in the area under revenue

8 Section 72.
9 Section 243.
10 Section 73.
11 Section 2(z-5).
13

survey shall be formed into groups and in forming such group regard shall be had to physical
features, agricultural and economic conditions and trade facilities and communications.12

CONCLUSION
In India land being a limited resource creates great interest, however land is a primary source of
livelihood for at 70 % of the Indian population is dependent on agriculture. Agricultural land thus
provides for both greater interest and greater care. Revenue survey is very important as it deals
primarily with the non-urban area. A revenue survey plays an important role mainly in villages as
it allots survey numbers. Moreover it is crucial for the rural masses and the farmers as it
determines the soil classification.
Revenue survey all so assists in correcting any areas made in the field map and thus revises these
field maps and corrects them. It further facilitates and protects the rights of the inhabitants as
they help maintain the record of rights. The CGLRC does keep in mind the necessity of proper
management and awareness of the survey thus keeps a procedural requisite of a notification prior
to the revenue survey.
Revenue survey further assist in maintaining the villages and facilitates the grouping of villages
for better administration and development. It bestows a number of powers on the Settlement
Officer for the proper performance and execution of the revenue survey. Revenue survey plays a
crucial role in updating survey numbers, sub-diving them or amalgamating them as per the
requirement.
Thus revenue survey plays a crucial role in maintaining the entire land revenue system especially
in non-urban areas. It creates an organized basis for the furtherance for the other provisions of
12 Section 74.
14

the Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code and helps in proper management of villages and non-urban
areas. Furthermore the rules through notifications have time and again facilitated the revenue
survey making it effective and efficient in its functioning.

REFERENCES

ACTS
The Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code, 1959.

BOOKS
M.L. Jindal, M.P./Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code, 1959, Rajkamal Publications, Indore

(2006).
The Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code, 1959, Suvidha Law House Pvt. Ltd, 2013
(reprint).

RULES
Rules made under Section 68, Notification no 177-6477-VII-N (Rules), dated 6-1-1960.
Rules made under Section 70, Notification no 178-6477-VII-N (Rules), dated 6-1-1960.
Rules made under Section 71, Notification no 179-6477-VII-N (Rules), dated 6-1-1960.

ARTICLES
SAIINDIA, Audit Report (Revenue Receipts) for the year ended 31 March 2011, Chapter
V: Land revenue, Chhattisgarh,
http://saiindia.gov.in/english/home/Our_Products/Audit_Report/Government_Wise/state_
audit/recent_reports/Chhattisgarh/2011/Revenue/Chap_5.pdf (last visited 20th February,
2014).

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