Official guidance, Tamil Nadu land law
Survey and Settlement circular guidance on land records copies
The Survey and Settlement wing of the Revenue Department issued Circular No. 40472/15 on 23 December 2015 as official guidance on issuing copies and extracts from survey and land record registers. It tells field offices what records may be given, what kind of copy or extract can be issued, and how requests relating to old and current settlement records should be handled.
What this circular is
The Survey and Settlement wing of the Revenue Department issued Circular No. 40472/15 on 23 December 2015. It is an internal guidance circular for revenue and survey offices on giving copies, extracts and related information from land survey and settlement records.
What it governs
The circular deals with access to records kept in survey and settlement offices. From the text, it covers records such as old settlement registers, resettlement registers, settlement land records and copy requests connected with survey records.
It appears to set out how offices should respond when a person asks for:
- copies from old settlement records
- extracts from registers
- copies connected with survey and settlement files
- information from records maintained in district and field offices
Who it affects
The circular matters to:
- landowners who need copies of survey or settlement records
- buyers checking old land history before purchase
- advocates, surveyors and document writers who apply for extracts
- revenue and survey staff who process these requests
If your land has old settlement entries, resurvey entries or records held in Survey and Settlement offices, this guidance is relevant because it explains what records can be issued and from where.
Key points from the text
The text refers to several kinds of land record material and indicates that offices may issue copies or extracts from them in the prescribed manner. The records mentioned include:
- Old Settlement Register, O.S.R.
- R.S.R.
- S.L.R. copies
- records held in Survey and Settlement offices
- records connected with village and field level land administration
The circular also appears to distinguish between different types of requests, including full copies, extracts and office-certified record copies. It directs subordinate offices and officers on the handling of applications and on the source register from which the copy should be prepared.
What a property buyer or owner should take from it
A property buyer or owner should read Circular No. 40472/15 dated 23 December 2015 as a records access and office procedure circular, not as a land title grant or land use approval. It is useful if you need historical survey or settlement documents to verify boundaries, prior classification or earlier settlement entries.
Practical effect
For the public, the practical effect is that survey and revenue offices have guidance on issuing record copies from older and current settlement registers. If you are applying for an extract or copy, the circular suggests that the office must identify the correct register and issue the appropriate form of record copy from that source.
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 circular change ownership of land or approve any transfer?
No. The text is about issuing copies and extracts from survey and settlement records. It is procedural guidance for records, not a title transfer or approval document.
What kinds of records are mentioned in the circular?
The text mentions records such as the Old Settlement Register, O.S.R., R.S.R., and S.L.R. copies, along with other survey and settlement office records.
Why would a property buyer care about this circular?
A buyer may need old survey or settlement extracts to check land history, boundaries or earlier entries. The circular is relevant because it guides offices on giving those copies and extracts.
Who is expected to use this guidance directly?
The circular is addressed to revenue and survey authorities and their subordinate offices. In practice, it affects members of the public who apply to those offices for land record copies.
