Official guidance, Tamil Nadu land law
Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Disposal of Surplus Land) Rules, 1965 (1965)
The Tamil Nadu Revenue Department guidance on the Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Disposal of Surplus Land) Rules, 1965, effective from 1 January 1965, explains how ceiling surplus land acquired under the Act is assigned to eligible persons or retained for public benefit. It covers eligibility, applications, enquiry, payment, assignment conditions, inheritance and when ownership becomes absolute.
What the rules govern
The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Disposal of Surplus Land) Rules, 1965 govern the disposal of ceiling surplus land acquired under the Act. The land may be assigned to eligible persons under rule 5 or retained for public benefit under rule 13.
The rules matter to people seeking assignment of surplus agricultural land, existing cultivating tenants, landless agricultural labourers, members of the Armed Forces, certain repatriates and cooperative farming societies.
Application and assignment process
The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Disposal of Surplus Land) Rules, 1965 prescribe the following process:
- The assigning authority enters surplus land particulars in the Form A register.
- Applications are invited through a Form B notice.
- The Form B notice is published at the Village Chavadi, announced by beat of tom-tom and displayed at specified government and local body offices.
- Applications in Form C must be filed within 30 days from publication of the Form B notice in the village.
- A Form D notice fixes the enquiry date.
- The enquiry must be conducted by a Revenue Department officer not below the rank of Revenue Inspector.
- The assigning authority passes the assignment order based on the enquiry and issues a Form E notice stating the amount payable.
- After payment, a deed in Form F, described as F Patta, is executed. Subdivision records are prepared and sanctioned, and possession is handed over.
Who may qualify
Eligible categories listed in rule 5 include:
- Certain cultivators dispossessed of land, or whose holding was reduced below the stated limits by the Act.
- Landless agricultural labourers belonging to SC/ST, followed by landless agricultural labourers outside those categories.
- Members of the Armed Forces.
- Repatriates from Burma or Sri Lanka.
- Cultivating tenants holding less than the stated land limits.
- Cooperative farming societies whose members are landless agricultural labourers.
The source states that the assigned land together with land already held must not exceed the limits specified in rule 5(2).
Price, restrictions and ownership
The land value is 12 times the annual value determined under Schedule III. Payment may be made as a lump sum or in 20 equal instalments, with interest at 5 percent per year on outstanding instalments.
An assignee must directly cultivate the land, pay the full value and must not sell or otherwise transfer it before 20 years expire. Land assigned to an SC/ST person cannot be transferred to a person outside SC/ST.
Absolute ownership arises only after full payment for the land, buildings and trees, or after 20 years from assignment, whichever is later. If the assignee dies after Form F is executed but within the conditional period, assignment may pass to an eligible legal heir. If no legal heir is eligible, the land returns to the Government.
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
How do I apply for assignment of ceiling surplus land?
Submit an application in Form C within 30 days from the publication of the Form B notice in the village. The assigning authority will publish a Form D enquiry notice and decide the application after enquiry.
Can an assignee sell surplus land immediately after receiving F Patta?
No. The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Disposal of Surplus Land) Rules, 1965 prohibit sale or other alienation before 20 years expire.
When does assigned surplus land become the assignee's absolute property?
The land vests absolutely only after the full value of the land, buildings and trees is paid, or after 20 years from the assignment date, whichever occurs later.
What happens if the assignee dies during the 20 year conditional period?
If death occurs after execution of Form F, the assignment may be transferred to an eligible legal heir. If no legal heir is eligible, the land reverts to the Government.
