The Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Restriction and Control to Regulate the Use of Porambokes in Ryotwari Tracts) Rules, 2000

What the rules govern

The Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Restriction and Control to Regulate the Use of Porambokes in Ryotwari Tracts) Rules, 2000 apply to Poramboke land at the disposal of the Government where its use is regulated by a Village Panchayat. They affect Village Panchayats, persons using or encroaching on such land, revenue officials and members of the public who may object to a proposed alternate public use.

A Poramboke cannot be used for a purpose different from its original purpose without the Collector's prior approval. The Collector may impose conditions and restrictions on the alternate use.

Alternate use and regulation

The Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Restriction and Control to Regulate the Use of Porambokes in Ryotwari Tracts) Rules, 2000 require the following process:

• If a Village Panchayat considers that specified Poramboke land is no longer needed for its original purpose, it must publish notice of the survey number and proposed public purpose.
• The notice must invite objections and allow at least thirty days from publication.
• Publication must be by beat of tom-tom and by display in a conspicuous part of the Village Panchayat office building.
• After the objection period, the proposal and objections must be sent to the Collector for orders.
• A Village Panchayat seeking to regulate another covered Poramboke must send the Collector its resolution, survey details, boundaries, extent, existing use and a description of trees on the land.

Records, inspection and fees

The Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Restriction and Control to Regulate the Use of Porambokes in Ryotwari Tracts) Rules, 2000 require each Village Panchayat to maintain a list recording survey numbers, boundaries, extent, use and trees for regulated Porambokes. The Village Administrative Officer and inspecting officers of the Revenue Department may inspect such land at any time.

A Village Panchayat may levy a fee under a rate schedule approved by the Collector. The schedule must not be less than seven per cent of market value for non-commercial use and fourteen per cent for commercial use.

Maintenance and encroachments

The Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Restriction and Control to Regulate the Use of Porambokes in Ryotwari Tracts) Rules, 2000 provide that:

• Threshing floors, cart-stands, cattle-stands, burning grounds and burial grounds must be kept sanitary.
• Topes must be maintained, with replacement planting for fallen, withered or dead trees.
• Village Panchayats may lease topes under suitable conditions and receive income from their trees.
• Village Panchayats must act to remove encroachments from covered Porambokes.

If a Village Panchayat defaults, the Village Administrative Officer issues a B. Memo. After three months from its receipt by the Village Panchayat, the Tahsildar may order removal of encroachments considered objectionable. Appeals lie first to the Revenue Divisional Officer and then to the District Collector.