The Tamil Nadu Agricultural Lands Record of Tenancy Rights Act, 1969
The Tamil Nadu Agricultural Lands Record of Tenancy Rights Act, 1969, Tamil Nadu Act No. 10 of 1969, was enacted by the Legislature of the State of Tamil Nadu, received the President’s assent on 10 July 1969 and was first published on 17 July 1969. It provides for government directed preparation and maintenance of tenancy records for agricultural land throughout Tamil Nadu, with authorised Revenue Department officers recording landowners, intermediaries and cultivating tenants. The supplied text includes amendments made in 1975 and 1981.
Purpose and coverage
The Tamil Nadu Agricultural Lands Record of Tenancy Rights Act, 1969 applies throughout Tamil Nadu. It covers land used for agriculture or horticulture, associated purposes and certain connected buildings, waste land, vacant land, forest land and house sites included under the same tenancy agreement.
The State Government may notify one or more villages where a record of tenancy rights must be prepared. The law allows different commencement dates to be appointed for different areas.
What the tenancy record contains
A record prepared under Tamil Nadu Act No. 10 of 1969 must include:
- The survey number or subdivision number of the land.
- The extent and local name of the land, if any.
- The name and address of the landowner.
- The name and address of any intermediary.
- The name and address of the tenant cultivating the land.
- Any other prescribed particulars.
A landowner includes heirs, assignees, legal representatives and persons deriving rights through the owner. The definition of tenant varies according to the area and the other agricultural tenancy laws applying to the land. The supplied text reflects a replacement of the tenant definition made in 1975.
How a record is prepared
An officer of the Revenue Department, not below the rank of Deputy Tahsildar and authorised by government notification, acts as the record officer. After a village is notified, the record officer must publish a notice asking every relevant landowner, tenant or intermediary to provide written information about their interest in land let for cultivation.
The record officer prepares a draft after giving affected parties a reasonable opportunity to make oral or written representations. Information may also come through statutory information gathering, prescribed methods or an Advisory Committee. Advisory Committee input was added by an amendment in 1981.
The draft must be published in the District Gazette and by other prescribed methods. An extract for each relevant survey number or subdivision must also be served on the landowner, intermediary and tenant concerned.
Why it matters to landholders and tenants
The Tamil Nadu Agricultural Lands Record of Tenancy Rights Act, 1969 directly affects agricultural land let for cultivation in a notified village. Its printed arrangement also provides for inclusion and modification of entries, appeals, revision, inspection and copies, penalties for missing or false information, and a presumption that approved entries are correct.
This summary is generated from the source document to help you find what is relevant. The PDF above is authoritative. For advice on your own property, use LandLens One or speak to a qualified professional.
Common questions
Does this law apply to every agricultural property in Tamil Nadu?
The law extends throughout Tamil Nadu, but a tenancy record is prepared for a village or villages only when the State Government issues a notification directing its preparation.
Will the tenancy record show both the owner and the cultivating tenant?
Yes. The record must contain the names and addresses of the landowner, the cultivating tenant and any intermediary, together with survey and land details.
Can I object before my details are entered in the tenancy record?
The record officer must give the parties concerned a reasonable opportunity to make oral or written representations before preparing the draft record.
Does the source give one commencement date for all of Tamil Nadu?
No. It says the law comes into force on dates appointed by State Government notification, and different dates may be appointed for different areas.
