G.O. (Ms.) No. 168, House-site Pattas for Occupants of Government Land, 2000
The Tamil Nadu Revenue Department issued Government Order (Ms.) No. 168, dated 27 March 2000, to permit eligible long-term residential occupation of certain government lands to be regularised through house-site pattas. The one-time scheme applies where the land is no longer used for its classified purpose, is not required by the government, and has been occupied with houses for more than 10 years.
What the order does
Government Order (Ms.) No. 168 of the Tamil Nadu Revenue Department, dated 27 March 2000, sets out a one-time scheme for regularising eligible residential occupation of certain government lands. It followed recommendations from a committee formed under Government Order (Ms.) No. 75 of the Revenue Department, dated 5 February 2000, to examine house-site assignment for people living for more than 20 years on poramboke land not required by the government.
The final scheme permits regularisation in specified cases where houses have been occupied for more than 10 years.
Land and occupants covered
Government Order (Ms.) No. 168 covers government land classified as:
- Watercourse poramboke.
- Grazing land.
- Cattle grazing ground.
- Burial ground.
- Pathway.
Such land can be considered only if it is no longer being used for its classified purpose, is being used as natham, and is not required for government use. The residents must have built houses and lived there for more than 10 years.
Approval process
Government Order (Ms.) No. 168 requires a committee consisting of the District Collector, the District Revenue Officer and an officer of the department concerned to inspect the land. The relevant local body must then pass a resolution. Eligible residential occupations may be regularised only after these steps and an assessment of eligibility.
Valuation and payment
Government Order (Ms.) No. 168 provides that:
- A person who is not eligible for a free house-site patta must have the land valued using the Guideline Register.
- If a person eligible for a free patta occupies more land than the area allowed under existing orders, the additional occupied area must be valued using the Guideline Register.
Municipal areas and other conditions
Government Order (Ms.) No. 168 relaxes the existing prohibition on house-site assignments for cases under this scheme within the Chennai suburban area and the municipal corporation limits of Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchirappalli.
Other existing rules and orders governing house-site pattas continue to apply. The scheme is expressly described as a one-time scheme.
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Common questions
Can occupation of any government land be regularised under this scheme?
No. The land must fall within one of the listed classifications, no longer be used for that purpose, be used as natham, and not be required by the government.
How long must a resident have lived on the land?
Government Order (Ms.) No. 168 requires the resident to have built a house and lived on the land for more than 10 years.
Is the house-site patta always free?
No. A person who is not eligible for a free patta must pay a value fixed using the Guideline Register. An eligible person must also pay the Guideline Register value for any occupied area exceeding the area allowed under existing orders.
Does the scheme apply within major city corporation limits?
The prohibition on house-site assignments is relaxed for eligible cases under the scheme in the Chennai suburban area and within the corporation limits of Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchirappalli.
