Assam · Act 23 of 1971

THE ASSAM (TEMPORARILY SETTLED AREAS) TENANCY ACT 1971 (SINGLE DOCUMENT)

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ASSAM ACT XXIII OF 1971 

(Received the assent of the President on the 3rd December, 1971) 

THE ASSAM (TEMPORARILY SETTLED AREAS) TENANCY   ACT   

1971 

An 

Act 

to regulate the relations of landlord and tenant in the temporarily sett1ed areas of 

Assam.

 

Preamble. Whereas it is expedient to regulate the rights and liabilities of 

agricultural tenants and their landlords in temporarily settled lands in the 
State of Assam ; 

 It is hereby enacted in the Twenty-second Year of the Republic of 
India as follows:- 

 

CHAPTER  I 

Preliminary 

 

Short title, 

extent and 

commencement. 

1.  

 

      (1) This Act may be called the Assam (Temporarily Settled 
Areas) Tenancy Act, 1971. 

      (2) It shall come into force at once. 

      (3) It extends to,- 

(a)  the districts of Kamrup, Nowgong, Darrang, Sibsagar and 
Lakhimpur ; 

(b)  Silchar and Hailakandi Subdivisions of the district of 

Cachar ; and 

(c) temporarily settled areas of Gossaingaon, Sidli and Bijni 

Circles of Kokrajhar Subdivision in the district of 

Goalpara and the temporarily settled areas of Karimganj 

Sub- division. 

       (4) The State Government may, by notification, extend the 
whole or any part of the Act to any other areas of the State :              

          Provided that no such notification shall be issued unless a 

notice of the intended extension is previously published in the area 

concerned and any objection received is disposed of after due 
consideration. 

 

 



2 

 

Exception. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.  

 

The Act does not apply to:- 

(a) land included in any Reserved Forest; 

(b) land owned by the Union or the State Government or by 

Local authority which is used for any public purposes ; 

(c) land reserved for the purpose of professional grazing reserves, 

village grazing reserves, recreation grounds, burial or cremation 

ground, road , canal, drain, embankment or their maintenance or 
for any other public purposes ; 

(d) land which is non-agricultural and situated outside town-land 
area ; 

(e) land comprised within estates settled for special cultivation 

when, and only so long as, such lands are used for purposes of 
special cultivation or for purposes ancillary thereto. 

Explanation.- (I) This sub-clause includes lands settled for the 

cultivation of tea under the rules in force from time to time such 

as fee simple grants, revenue redeemed grants, 36 years' grants 

under the New Lease Rules though now assessed with full 

revenue and lease for special cultivation under settlement rules 

framed from time to time under the Assam Land and Revenue 

Regulation, 1886.  

(II) Purposes ancillary for special cultivation shall mean the 

following:- 

(i) land used for factory buildings ; 

 

(ii) land used for staff buildings including labour lines ; 

 

(iii) land used for roads, bridges and drains within the tea 

estates ; 

 

(iv) land used for nurseries including shade trees ; 

 

(v) land used for hospitals , dispensaries, crèche, recreation 

club and playground; 

 

(vi) Land used for any other buildings made by 

management under any other law in force ; 

 

(vii) land used for seed "bari"; 

(f) lands included in town land. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I of 1886 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definitions. 3.  In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or 

context,- 

(1) "agriculture" includes horticulture, pisciculture and other 

allied agricultural pursuits; 

 

 

 

 

 



3 

 

(2)  "agricultural year" means the year commencing from the 

first day of Baisakh and ending with the last day of Chaitra, 

according to Assamese Calendar; 

 

(3) "agriculturist" means a person who cultivates land 

personally; 

 

(4) "holding" means a parcel or parcels of land or an 

undivided share thereof, held by a tenant and forming the subject 

of a separate tenancy; 

 

(5) "improvement" means any work which adds to the value 

of the holding, which is suitable to the holding and which is 

executed directly for the benefit of the holding, and includes,- 

 

(a) construction of wells, tanks, water channels or other 

works for storage, supply or distribution of water for 

the purpose of agriculture or for drinking or for the use 

of men and cattle employed in agriculture ; 

 

(b) drainage, reclamation from rivers or other waters or 

protection from flood, erosion or other damage by 

water, or land used for agricultural purposes or waste 

land which is culturable ; 

 

(c) erection of dwelling house for tenant and his family 
together with all necessary outhouses; 

(6) "land" means "agricultural land";and "agricultural land" 

means land used for agricultural purpose or purposes subservient 

thereto. 

      Explanation.-Land under homestead occupied for residential 

purposes in connection with an agricultural holding shall be 

deemed to be included in "agricultural land" 

(7) "landlord" means a person immediately under whom a 

tenant holds but does not include any Government ; 

(8) "money rent" in relation to rent payable in crop-share for 

the purpose of deposit into court and for calculation of arrear rent 

in respect of rent payable in crop-share is the money value of the 

crop deliverable by a tenant to his landlord and such money value 

shall be computed on the basis of the market value of that crop 

prevailing at the time of harvesting in the locality concerned;" 

(9) "notification" means a notification published in the Official 
Gazette ; 

(10) "personal cultivation" means cultivation by the person 

himself, or by member of his family or by hired labourers on 

fixed remuneration payable in cash or kind but not in crop share, 

under personal supervisions of the person himself or any 

member of his family, provided it is accompanied by the bearing 

of risks of cultivation by the owner and by residence in the 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



4 

 

village in which the land is situated or nearby village or town 

within a distance of 5 miles during the greater part of the 
agricultural season: 

 Provided that in the case of a person who is a widow or a 

minor, or is subject to any physical or mental disability or is a 

member of the Defence forces of the Indian Union or is a student 

below the age of 21 years of an educational institution 

recognised by the State Government, the land shall be deemed 

under personal cultivation even in the absence of such personal 

supervision ; 

(11) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules framed under the 
Act ; 

(12) "principal crop" shall mean only one crop for each 

agricultural year as may be agreed upon mutually between the 

landlord and the tenant:  

Provided that where there is no agreement, the principal crop 

shall be only one agricultural crop grown in each agricultural 

year viz., sali or such local name generally used in respect of 

paddy known as winter pady and the harvesting of which is done 

in the months of December, January and February, 

corresponding to Agrahayana, Pausa and Magha ; 

(13) "rent" means whatever is lawfully payable or deliverable 

by the tenant to the landlord in cash or in kind or partly in cash 

and partly in kind whether as a fixed quantity of produce or as a 

share of the produce, on account of use or occupation of the land 

or on account of any right in the land held by the tenant; 

 (14) "Revenue Officer" means any officer. with that 

designation appointed by the State Government for the purposes 

of this Act ; 

(15) "Revenue Court" means the Court of the Deputy 

Commissioner, Settlement Officer or, of such other officer as the 

State Government may invest with the powers of Revenue Court 
for the purposes of this Act; 

(16) "Revenue Rate" means in respect of every parcel of land 

in an estate settled temporarily at full rates, the rate at which 

revenue is for the year actually payable to Government upon that 
parcel of land; 

(17) "tenant" means a person who cultivates or holds the land 

of another person, and is, or but for a special contract (express or 

implied) would be, liable to pay rent for that land to that other 

person, and includes a person who under system generally 

known as 'Adhi' (whether Guchiadhi or Guti-adhi), 'barga', 

'chukti', 'bhag' or 'chukani' cultivates the land of another person 

on condition of delivering a share or quantity of the produce of 
such land to that person:  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



5 

 

Provided that a person who cultivates or holds land 

immediately under the State Government is not a tenant within 
the meaning of this definition.  

Explanation.- A  person who holds land on condition of service 

to a temple or religious institution shall be deemed to be the 
tenant of the manager of such temple or religious institution; 

 

1
[ (18) Town land" means any land- 

 

(a) included within the limits of the city of Gauhati as 

constituted and notified under the provisions of sub-section 

(1) of Section 42 the Gauhati Municipal Corporation Act, 

1969 (Assam Act I of 1973), 

 

(b) that may be included further in the city of Gauhati from 

time to time under the provisions of subsection (2) of Section 

42 of the Gauhati Municipal Corporation Act, 1969,  

 

(c) of any other town notified as a city under the provisions of 

any other Municipal Corporation Act for the time being in 

force, 

 

(d) within an area declared or deemed to be a Municipality or 

notified area under the Assam Municipal Act, 1956 (Assam 

Act XV of 1957), 

 

(e) any other land which the State Government may declare 

under the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation 1886 or in 

accordance with  the provisions of Section 3 of the Assam 

Land Revenue Re-Assessment Act, 1936 (Assam Act VIII of 

1936).] 

 

(19) The following words shall have the same meaning as is 

assigned to them in the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 
1886, or the Rules framed thereunder:- 

 

"estates", "temporarily-settled-estate", "land-revenue", 

"proprietor" ,"land holder", "settlement-holder", 

"periodic lease", "special cultivation", "ordinary 

cultivation". 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 of 1886. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Subs. by Assam Act No.VII of 1983. 



6 

 

CHAPTER II 

Classes of Tenants 

Classes of 

Tenants. 

4. (1) There shall be, for the purpose of this Act, only the 

following classes of tenants, namely,- 

(i) Occupancy tenant, that is to say, a tenant holding 

immediately under a proprietor, landholder or 

settlement holder other than land-holder, and having a 

right of occupancy in the lands held by him, 

 

(ii) non-occupancy tenant, that is to say, a tenant holding 

immediately under a proprietor,  landholder or 

settlement- holder other than landholder but not 

having a right of occupancy in the land held by him, 

and 
 

(2) From the date of commencement of this Act, any person 

who was recorded in the record-of-rights as a privileged tenant 

under the provisions of the Assam (Temporarily Settled 

Districts) Tenancy Act, 1935 shall henceforward be recorded as 

an Occupancy Tenant: 

 Provided that he shall, subject to the provisions of section 28 

of this Act, continue to pay the rent at the same rate as before the 

commencement of this Act. 

(3) From the date of commencement of this Act, there shall be 

no new under-tenant. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assam 

Act III 

of 1935. 

CHAPTER III 

Occupancy Tenant 

Acquisition of 

occupancy 

rights. 
 

5. (1) A person who for a period of not less than 3 years has 

continuously held land as a tenant shall have a right of 
occupancy in that land. 

(2) The period of 3 years may be wholly or partly before or 
after the commencement of this Act. 

(3) A person shall be deemed, for the purposes of this section 

to have continuously held land under a landlord notwithstanding 

that the particular landlord under whom he held the land was 

different at different times, provided the land held by him was 
the same. 

(4) A person shall be deemed, for the purposes of this section, 

to have held as a tenant any land held as a tenant by a person 

whose heir he is. 

 

 

 



7 

 

 

(5) If a tenant recovers possession of his holding under any 

law in force, any period during which he might have been out of 

possession, shall count towards the period specified in sub-

section (1). 

 

Incidence of 

occupancy right. 

6.      An occupancy tenant shall have permanent, heritable and 

transferable right of use and occupancy in the land of his holding, 
subject to the other provisions of this Act. 

 

 

Devolution on 

death. 

7.  If a tenant dies intestate in respect of a right of occupancy, it shall, 

subject to any custom, descend in the same manner as other 

immovable property. 

 

 

Right of 

transfer. 

8. An occupancy tenant shall have a right of transfer in respect of his 

holding with prior permission of the Government in the manner 

prescribed. A notice of such transfer shall be served on the 

landlord in the manner prescribed :  

 

      Provided that an occupancy tenant shall not transfer his land to 

a non-agriculturist. 

 

 

Prohibition of 

sub-letting. 

9. From the date of commencement of this Act, an occupancy tenant 

shall have no right to sub-let his land.  

Right of use of 

land. 

10. An occupancy tenant may use the land of his tenancy in any 

manner which does not materially impair the value of the land or 

render it unfit for the purpose of tenancy. 

 

 

Right in trees. 11. An occupancy tenant shall be entitled, if there is no under-tenant 

under him,- 

 

 (i) to plant,  (ii) to enjoy the flowers, fruits and other products 

of,  (iii)to fell, and (iv) to utilise and dispose of the timber of 

any tree on such land : 

 

  Provided that in doing so he does not contravene the provisions 

of any law : 

  

 Provided further that he shall not be entitled without landlord's 

consent, to fell, utilise or dispose of the timber of any tree which 

stood on the holding before the creation of the tenancy. When the 

tenancy is over 20 years old, all trees standing on the land shall be 

presumed, until the contrary is proved, to have been planted or to 

have begun to grow during the tenancy. 

 

 

Obligation to 

pay fair rent. 

 

12. 

 

Any occupancy tenant shall pay rent for his holding at fair and 

equitable rate, subject to the maximum rate of rent laid down 
under the provisions of section 28 of this Act :  

 



8 

 

     Provided that if the tenant has been holding his land for a 

continuous period of not less than 10 years (i) at a rate of rent 

never exceeding the revenue rate or (ii) at less than the revenue-

rate in addition to service to be rendered by him then the rent at 
the revenue-rate shall be deemed to be the fair and equitable rent. 

 

Restriction 

enhancement of 

rent. 

 

13.  

 

Rent of an occupancy tenant shall not be enhanced except as 

provided for in Chapter VII of this Act. 

 

 

Protection from 

ejectment. 

14.  An occupancy tenant shall not be liable to ejectment from his 

holding except as provided for in Chapter IX of this Act.  

  

CHAPTER IV 

Non-Occupancy Tenant 

 

Incidence of the 

tenancy. 

15.       (a) A non-occupancy tenant shall have right of possession till 

he is lawfully ejected and subject to the other provisions of the 

Act or any custom the tenancy shall descend in the same manner 

as other immovable property. 

      (b) A non-occupancy holding shall not be transferable except 

for the purpose of mortgage for the purpose of agriculture only in 

favour of the State Government, the Union Government, a Co-

operative Society or an authorised bank to secure loan advanced 

by such Government, Society, or Bank and in the event of any 

default in the repayment of such loan, it shall be lawful for the 

Government, the Society or the bank as the case may be, to cause 

the tenant's interest in the land to be attached and sold under the 

authority provided for in Section 49 of this Act and to apply the 

proceeds in payment of such loan. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prohibition of 

sub-letting. 

16. From the date of commencement of this Act, a non-occupancy 

tenant shall have no right to sub- let his land. 

 

 

Obligation to 

pay fair rent. 

17. A non-occupancy tenant shall pay rent for his holding at fair and 

equitable rate, subject to the maximum rate of rent laid down 

under provisions of Section 28 of this Act. 

 

 

Restrictions on 

enhancement of 

rent. 

 

18. Rent of a non-occupancy tenant shall not be enhanced except as 

provided for in Chapter VII of this Act. 

 

 

Protection 

against 

ejectment. 

19. A non-occupancy tenant shall not be ejected except as provided 

for in Chapter IX of this Act. 

 

 

 

 

 



9 

 

CHAPTER V 

Under- Tenant 

Prohibition 

against creating 

new under-

tenant fenancy. 

20. On and from the date of commencement of this Act, there shall be 

no new under-tenant holding land under an occupancy tenant or a 

non-occupancy tenant :  

 

      Provided that any under-tenant holding any land prior to the 

enforcement of this Act, shall, however, continue to hold the same 

on the same terms and conditions as immediately before the 

commencement of this Act until he acquires the intermediary and 

ownership rights of his holding under the provisions of Chapter 

VI. 

 

 

 

CHAPTER VI 

Acquisition of intermediary and ownership rights 

 

Acquisition of 

ownership rights 

and 

intermediary 

rights by 

tenants. 

21. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any law, custom, or 

agreement, an occupancy tenant personally cultivating the land of 

his tenancy, shall be entitled to acquire the rights, titles and 

interests of his landlord, hereinafter called 'the ownership rights' 
according to the provisions of Section 23(I): 

      Provided that where the holding of an occupancy tenant is 

being cultivated by an under-tenant as defined in The Assam 

(Temporarily Settled District) Tenancy Act, 1935, from any date 

prior to enforcement of this Act, such under-tenant shall be 

entitled to acquire the rights, titles and interests of his landlord, 

hereinafter called 'the intermediary rights' and also the ownership 

rights of the land owner of the holding according to provisions of 
Section 23 (II) : 

      Provided further that the ownership rights of any land of a land 

lord who is a widow or a minor or physically or mentally disabled 

person or a member of the Defence Services shall not be liable to 

acquisition under the provisions of this Chapter. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition of 

ownership rights 

and 

intermediary 

rights by 

Government for 

tenants. 

 

 

 

22.  

 

    

 

The State Government may at any time after the commencement 

of this Act, by Notification declare that- 

 

(i) the rights, titles and interests of any or all landlords in 

respect of any holding held and personally cultivated by 

occupancy tenants, shall stand transferred to and vest in the 

respective occupancy tenants free from all encumbrances created 

by the land-lords ; 

 



10 

 

 

(ii) the rights, titles and interests of any or all landlords in 

respect of holding held by occupancy tenants or non-occupancy 

tenants but cultivated by an under-tenant as defined in the Assam 

(Temporarily Settled Districts) Tenancy Act, 1935, from a date 

prior to commencement of this Act and the intermediary rights of 

the occupancy tenants or non- occupancy tenants as the case may 

be, shall stand transferred to and vest in the respective under-

tenants free from all encumbrances created by the occupancy 

tenants or non-occupancy tenants or the land-lords.  

 

On such declaration the provisions of Section 24 shall apply. 

 

 

Acquisition of 

ownership rights 

and 

intermediary 

rights by 

tenants. 

23.     (I) Any occupancy tenant personally cultivating the land of his 

tenancy, desirous of acquiring the ownership rights of his 

landlord may at any time make an application in writing to the 

Deputy Commissioner and on such application being made and 

Compensation as provided in Section 25 is determined and paid 

by the occupancy tenant, the Deputy Commissioner shall declare 

the said occupancy tenant to have acquired the ownership rights 
free from all encumbrances. 

      (II) Any under-tenant, as defined in The Assam (Temporarily 

Settled Districts) Tenancy Act, 1935, cultivating the holding of an 

occupancy tenant or non-occupancy tenant from a date prior to 

commencement of this Act, desirous of acquiring the 

intermediary rights of his land-lord and the ownership rights of 

the land-owner of his holding, may at any time make an 

application in writing to the Deputy Commissioner, and on such 

application being made and compensation as provided in Section 

24 is determined and paid by the under-tenant, the Deputy 

Commissioner shall declare the said under-tenant to have 

acquired the intermediary rights of his land-lord and the 
ownership rights of his holding free from all encumbrances. 

 

 

Compensation. 

 

24.  

 

 

The total compensation payable for acquiring the ownership rights 

as well as the intermediary rights if any, of any holding shall be an 

amount equal to 50 times the full rate of annual land revenue 

payable for such land. 

 

 

 

Apportionment 

of compensation. 

25.       (1) Where an occupancy tenant is personally cultivating the 

holding, his land-lord shall be entitled to receive the entire amount 

of 50 times of land revenue. 

      (2) Where an under-tenant is cultivating from a date prior to 

commencement of this Act, the total amount of compensation shall 
be apportioned as follows:- 

 



11 

 

(a) towards acquisition of 

ownership right. 

(b) towards acquisition of 
intermediary rights. 

 

75 per cent of the total 

compensation. 

 

25 per cent of the total 

compensation. 

 

 

Procedure for 

payment of 

compensation. 

26.       (1) In all cases of acquisition under this Chapter, the Deputy 

Commissioner shall give notice to the landlord and all other 

persons having interests in the land and also fix a copy thereo in a 

conspicuous place of his office. He shall thereafter make an 

enquiry as prescribed, hear objections if any and then make an 

order determining the compensation payable for acquisition of 

ownership rights as also intermediary rights if any and apportion 
the same where necessary. 

      (2)  (a) If the acquisition be under section 22, the Deputy 

Commissioner shall pay the amount as determined from the fund 

placed at his disposal within a period of 3 months from the date of 
his passing orders under sub-section (I) above. 

      (b) If the acquisition be under the provisions of Section 23, the 

Deputy Commissioner shall direct the occupancy tenant or under-

tenant as the case may be to deposit the amount within a period of 

one month from the date of the order under sub-section ( 1) above 

and pay the compensation within a period of three months from 
the date of the said order under sub-section (1). 

      (3) In all cases of acquisition under section 22, the occupancy 

tenant or under-tenant as the case may be, shall pay to the 

Government in 5 equated annual instalments the compensation as 

determined by the Deputy Commissioner, the first instalment 

payable being due on the expiry of 3 months from the date of his 

order.  

     Where any instalment of compensation is not deposited in the 

Treasury within 30 days from the date of its becoming due, the 

Deputy Commissioner shall proceed to recover the instalments as 
if it were an arrear of land revenue. 

(4) (a) In case of acquisition under section 22, on deposit of 

the first instalment of compensation as assessed, the Deputy 

Commissioner shall issue to the erstwhile tenant a certificate of 
ownership right and also correct the revenue records, 

(b) In case of acquisition under section 23, on deposit of 

the compensation as assessed, the Deputy Commissioner shall 

issue to the erstwhile tenant a certificate of ownership right and 

also correct the revenue records. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



12 

 

 

      (5) In case of dispute as to the person or persons who are 

entitled to receive the amount of compensation money, the amount 

shall be kept in deposit in a Government treasury and the dispute 

shall be referred to the Civil Court having jurisdiction and the 

amount shall then be paid in terms of the final decision of the 
court. 

 

CHAPTER VII 

Rent 

 

liability to pay 

rent, 

27. Notwithstanding anything contained in any law, custom or 

agreement, no tenant shall be liable to pay rent whether in cash or 

in kind at a rate exceeding the maximum rate of rent as provided 

for hereinafter following. 

 

 

Maximumrate of 

rent. 

28. The maximum rate of rent payable by an occupancy or non-

occupancy tenant shall be as follows: - 

      (a) in case of cash rent, not exceeding 3 times of the land 

revenue payable for such land, 

 

 

      (b) in case of crop-rent, a rate of rent not exceeding one-fifth 

of the produce of the principal crop grown in each agricultural 

year: 

      Provided that where the crop fails due to natural calamities 

and/or payment of the crop share is not possible due to- 

circumstances beyond the control of the tenant, a sum equal to 

double of annual land revenue payable by his immediate landlord 

for such holding shall be fair rent:  

      Provided further that atenant desiring to pay his rent in cash in 

lieu of crop-rent may, after giving a written notice of not less than 

30 days to the landlord, pay the money value of the crop 

deliverable by him to his landlord, computed on the basis of the 

market value of the principal crop prevailing at the time of 

harvesting at the locality concerned. 

 

 

Grounds for 

enhancement of 

rent. 

29.  

 

Subject to the maximum limits laid down in section 28 of this Act, 

the rent of a tenant shall be liable to enhancement on one or more 

of the following grounds, namely:- 

 

(i) that the productive powers of the land held by the tenant 

have been increased by fluvial action ; or 

(ii) that the productive powers of the land held by the tenant 

have been increased by any improvement effected by or at 

the expense of the landlord ; or 

(iii) that the area of the tenant's holding has been increased by 

alluvion or otherwise ; or 

 

 

 



13 

 

(iv) that the revenue rate payable by the landlord to the State 

Government in respect of the holding of the tenant has 

increased. 

 

Procedure for 

enhancement of 

rent. 

30.  

 

A landlord of any holding desiring an enhancement of rent on any 

ground mentioned in section 29 may apply to the Deputy 

Commissioner stating the specific ground on which the claim for 

enhancement rests. The Deputy Commissioner shall there upon 

make the necessary inquiry, and may, for  that purpose, cause an 

inspection of the land by a Revenue Officer, and shall thereafter 

pass such orders as deemed fit subject always to the maximum rate 

of rent laid down in section 28 of this Act: 

      Provided that- 

      (1) Where an enhancement is claimed under section 29(i), the 

Deputy Commissioner shall not take into account any increase in 

productive powers due to fluvial action, which is merely 
temporary or casual ; 

      (2) Where the enhancement is claimed under section 29(ii), the 

Deputy Commissioner shall have regard to actual increase in 

productive powers caused by the improvement, the cost of 

improvement, and also the increase or decrease, if any, in the cost 

of cultivation for utilising the improvement. 

 

 

Grounds for 

reduction of 

rent. 

31. The rent of a tenant shall be liable to reduction on one or more of 

the following grounds, namely : - 

 

(i) that the productive powers of the land held by the tenant 

have been decreased due to any action of the landlord or 

due to any cause beyond the control of the tenant during 

the currency of the present tenancy; or 

 

(ii) that the area of the tenant's holding has been decreased 

by diluvion,  or by acquisition for public purpose ; or 

 

(iii) that the revenue rate payable by his landlord to the State 

Government in respect of the tenant's holding has 

decreased. 

 

Procedure for 

reduction of 

rent. 

32. A tenant desiring any reduction of rent or any one or more of the 

grounds mentioned in section 31 may apply to the Deputy 

Commissioner stating the specific ground on which the claim for 

reduction rests. The Deputy Commissioner shall thereupon make 

the necessary enquiry and may, for this purpose, cause an 

inspection of the land by a Revenue Officer, and shall thereafter 
pass such orders as deemed fit. 

 

 

Date of effect. 33.  

 

Enhancement or reduction of rent, as the case may be, will take 

effect from the date of the order of the Deputy Commissioner. 

 

 



14 

 

When rent is 

due for 

payment. 

34.       (1) Cash-rent shall become due for payment a fortnight earlier 

than the corresponding land revenue which is payable by his land-

lord becomes due for payment, or where such landlord is not liable 

to pay the revenue, would have become payable had it been 
assessed to revenue. 

      (2) Crop-rent shall become due for delivery within 60 days 
from the date of harvesting the crop. 

 

 

Arrear of rent. 35.  Rent not paid when it falls due shall be deemed to be an arrear. 

  

Rent-suit. 36.  

 

No arrear of rent shall be realisable otherwise than by a rent-suit 

filed in the competent Civil Court. The procedure for such rent-

suit shall be according to the provisions of the Civil Procedure 

Code, 1908 and the plaint shall, in addition to matters mentioned 

in rules 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 and sub-rule (2) of Rule 9 of Order VII in 

the first Schedule to Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, specify the 

area of the land to which the suit relates and where fields are 

numbered in the village papers, the number and area of each field 

and, in suits for arrears, the amount of the yearly rent which is 

payable. Where the land to which the suit relates does not form 

one or more fields numbered in the village papers the plaint shall 
contain a sufficient description of the land and its boundaries. 

 

 

Rent receipt. 

 

37. 

 

(i) Every tenant who pay his rent shall be entitled to obtain 

forthwith from his landlord a written receipt signed by the 

landlord or his authorised agent. 

 

 

(ii) The receipt shall contain a description of the land for which 

the rent has been paid, the total amount of rent due, the 

amount of rent in cash or the quantity of rent in kind that has 

been paid and the year for which it has been paid , 

 

(iii) If a receipt does not contain substantially the above 

particulars, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is shown, 

to be a full acquittance of the rent due from the tenant. 

 

(iv) When a landlord or his agent, without reasonable cause, fails 

to deliver to the tenant a receipt as required by the foregoing 

sub-sections, the land-lord shall be liable to pay as 

compensation to the tenant a sum not exceeding two 

hundred rupees for each default. 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 



15 

 

Deposit of cash 

rent or money 

rent. 

38.       (1) When a landlord refuses to accept any rent when tendered 

to him by a tenant or when the tenant is in bonafide doubt as to 

who is entitled to receive the rent, the tenant may make an 

application to the Revenue Officer in the prescribed manner 

seeking permission to deposit the cash rent or money rent as the 

case may be along with the cost of transmission, and fee for 

notice. 

      (2) The Revenue Officer, if satisfied after enquiry in the 

prescribed manner, as to the bonafide of the circumstances 

preventing the tenant from paying the rent to his landlord, shall 

accept the amount tendered and issue a receipt thereof. The receipt 

shall be deemed to be a valid discharge of the rent actually 

deposited by the tenant. 

      (3) In cases of refusal to accept the rent the Revenue Officer 

shall remit the rent deposited by the tenant by Money Order to the 

last known address of the landlord. 

      (4) In other cases the Revenue Officer shall cause a notice 

about the fact of deposit of rent in his office fixed in a conspicuous 

place and also to be served on any person whom he has reason to 

believe, is entitled to deposit. He shall thereafter proceed to hear 

the person or persons interested in the manner prescribed and if 

there is no dispute, the Revenue Officer shall cause immediate 

payment. In cases of dispute as to the person or persons who are 

entitled to receive the rent, the amount shall be kept tn deposit in a 

Government Treasury and the dispute shall be referred to a Civil 

Court having jurisdiction and the amount shall then be paid in 

terms of the final decision of the Court. 

 

 

CHAPTER VIII 

Sale for arrear under decree 

Sale of a holding 

for arrear of 

rent in certain 

cases. 

39.       (1) Where the unsatisfied rent-decree relates to arrear rent in 

respect of a holding of any occupancy tenant, he shall not be liable 

to ejectment for such arrear. But his holding shall be liable to sale 

in execution of the unsatisfied rent-decree and the landlord shall, 

instead of filing a suit for ejectment, submit an application, 

accompanied with the rent-decree to the competent Civil Court for 

attaching and putting the holding of the defaulting tenant to sale, 

and the decree for rent shall be satisfied out of the proceeds of the 
sale. 

      (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Civil Procedure 

Code, 1908, or any other law for the time being in force, the 

procedure for attaching and selling the holding of the defaulting 
tenant shall be according to the provisions hereinafter following. 

 

Attachment and 

proclamation of 

sale. 

40. The competent Civil Court, on receipt of the application of the 

landlord, shall issue an order of attachment of the holding and also 

a proclamation of sale of the same. 

 



16 

 

 

Manner of 

publication of 

sale of 

proclamation. 

41. The proclamation of sale shall be published in the following 

manner:- 

(a) by affixing a copy thereof in a conspicuous place on the 

land of the holding, and 

 

(b)  by affixing a copy thereof in a conspicuous place of the 

issuing Court, and 

 

(c)  by sending by registered post to the defaulting tenant a 

copy of the order of attachment and a copy of the 

proclamation of sale. 

 

 

Date of sale 42. The sale shall not take place until after the expiration of at least 30 

days from the date on which all the three conditions of Section 41 

are fully complied with : 

      Provided that no such sale shall take place until after a notice 
has been served on the judgement debtor. 

 

Sale 43. On the date of the sale, it shall be put up to auction and sold to the 

highest bidder who shall pay one-fourth of the purchase money on 

the spot and the balance within 15 days: 

      Provided that, if the defaulting tenant or an interested person 

pays the arrear under the decree together with the cost, if any of 

the sale before the day fixed for sale, then, the sale shall be stayed 

and the land released from attachment: 

        Provided further that in the case of a holding of an estate 

pertaining to a religious institution, if the highest bid be that of a 

member of a different religion from the one to which the 

institution belongs the landlord shall have the option, to 

be declared in writing to the Court within 30 days of the sale, of 

purchasing the holding at the highest bid. 

 

 

 

 

Disposal of the 

sale proceeds. 

44.  The proceeds of the sale, after defraying the cost of the sale due to 

Government, if any, shall be disposed of in the following manner:- 

 

(a) There shall first be paid to the decree holder the cost, if 

any, incurred by him in bringing the holding to sale ; 

 

(b) there shall next be paid to him the amount under the 

decree ; 

 

(c) the balance, if any, shall then be paid to the defaulting 

tenant. 

 

 

Setting aside of 

sale on deposit 

of decretal 

amount. 

45.  

 

The defaulting tenant or any interested person may, within 30 days 

of the date of the sale apply to the Court conducting the sale to set 

aside the sale on depositing in the Court, (a) the decretal amount 

together with cost of the sale for payment to the decree holder, and 

(b) a sum equal to 5 per cent of the purchase money for payment 

to the auction purchaser as a penalty, and ( e) the cost of the sale, 

 



17 

 

if any, payable to the Government, and the Court shall thereupon 

set aside the sale and shall cause the amounts under (a), (b) and (c) 
above to be paid to the respective persons or authorities. 

 

Setting aside of 

sale on ground 

of irregularity 

etc. 

46. The defaulting tenant, the decree holder or any other interested 

persons may, within 60 days of the date of the sale, apply to the 

Court to set aside the sale on the ground of material irregularity, or 

fraud or mistake in publishing or conducting the sale: 

      Provided that no sale shall be set aside on this ground unless 

the applicant proves to the satisfaction of the Court that he has 

sustained substantial injury by reason of such irregularity or 
mistake. 

 

 

Confirmation of 

the sale. 

 

47. 

 

 If there is no application to set aside the sale under sections 45 

and 46 or if any such application has been disallowed, the Court 

shall make an order confirming the sale which shall, thereupon, 

become absolute. 

 

 

 

Auction 

purchaser to 

take the holding 

subject to 

certain 

encumbrances. 

 

48. 

   

    The auction purchaser shall take the holding subject to lawful 

encumbrances, if any, including grant of land for public worship, 

public cremation ground or public burial ground. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recovery of 

certain loans 

etc., by the 

above 

procedure. 

 

 

49. 

       

Nothing in this Act shall prevent a holding of an occupancy tenant 

or a non-occupancy tenant being sold in the manner laid down 

above under orders of the Deputy Commissioner for the recovery 

of (i) a loan advanced by the State Government, the Union 

Government or a Co-operative Society, or (ii) any other 

Government dues, but the rent of the holding shall remain the first 

charge on the sale proceeds after defraying the cost of the sale. 

 

 

CHAPTER IX 

Ejectment 

Forfeiture of 

tenancy on 

subletting and 

transfer. 

50.       If a tenant sublets or transfers the whole or any part of his 

holding otherwise than in accordance with the provision of this 

Act, then the tenant's interest thereon shall be forfeited ; and 

(a) if the transferee is an agriculturist, he shall be deemed 

to have become a tenant under the landlord under the same 
terms and conditions as the transferor; 

 

 

 



18 

 

(b) if the transferee is a non-agriculturist then such transfer 

shall be void and the Deputy Commissioner may, after such 

enquiry as may be prescribed, and after ejecting any 

persons in possession, place any landless agriculturist as a 
non-occupancy tenant of the landlord. 

Grounds of 

ejectment. 

51.       (1) An occupancy tenant shall not be ejected by his landlord 

from his holding except in execution of a decree for ejectment 

passed on the ground that he has used the land comprised in his 

holding in a manner which renders it unfit for the purpose of the 

tenancy. 

      (2) Any tenant, not being an occupancy tenant, shall not be 

ejected from the land of his tenancy except in execution of a 

decree for ejectment passed on any one or more of the following 

grounds, namely:- 

(a) that he has used the land comprised in his holding in a manner 

which renders it unfit for the purposes of the tenancy ; 

 

(b) that he has broken a condition of his tenancy consistent with 

the provisions of this Act, and on the breach of which he is, 

under the terms of the contract between himself and his 

landlord, liable to be ejected ; 

 

(c) that he has failed to pay the arrear of rent; and 

 

(d) that the land is bonafide required by the landlord for his 

personal cultivation. No suit for ejectment on this ground 

shall be entertained before the expiry of 12 months or after 

the expiry of 15 months for the date of creation of tenancy: 
 

       Provided that if the tenant has elsewhere got no land or 

has lands less than 10 bighas in area, then he shall not be 

ejected on this ground unless he has been left with so much 

area as will make the total of his holding equal to 10 bighas:  

      Provided further that if the landlord does not cultivate 

the land personally within one year of the date of ejection of 
the tenant then the tenant shall be restored to his possession. 

 

 

 

 

Rights of ejected 

tenants to cost of 

improvement. 

52.  

 

      Every tenant who is ordered to be ejected from his holding 

shall be entitled to compensation for improvements lawfully made 

by him or his predecessors in interest in respect of his holding and 

the Court's order for ejectment shall be made conditional on 

payment of the compensation. 

      In estimating the compensation to be paid for improvement, 

regard shall be had to the following;- 

(a) the amount by which the produce of the holding or the 

value of the produce or the value of the holding has 

increased by the improvement ; 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



19 

 

 

(b) the condition of the improvement and the probable 

duration of its effects ; 

(c) the labour and capital involved in making the 
improvement ; 

(d) reduction or remission of rent or other advantage given 

by the landlord to the tenant in consideration of the 

improvement; 

(e) in case of reclamation or irrigation, the length of time 

during which the tenant has had the benefit of the 

improvement as an unenhanced rent. 

Rights of ejected 

tenants in 

respect of crops, 

dwelling house, 

etc. 

 

53. The following provisions shall apply in the case of every tenant 

ejected from a holding:- 

 

(a) Where the tenant has, before the date of his ejectment, 

sown or planted crops in any land comprised in the 

holding, he shall be entitled at the option of the landlord, 

either to retain possession of that land till the harvest for 

the purpose of tending and gathering in the crops or to 

receive from the landlord the value of the crops as 

estimated by the Court executing the ejectment decree. If 

the landlord elects to allow the tenant to retain possession 

of the land till the harvest, the tenant shall be liable to pay 

to the landlord, during the period of such retention of 

possession such rent as the Court executing the ejectment 

decree deems reasonable. 

 

(b) Where the tenant has, before the date of his ejectment, 

prepared for sowing any land of his holding but has not 

sown or planted crops therein , he shall be entitled to 

receive from the landlord the value of the labour and 

capital expended by him in preparing the land, as 

estimated by the Court executing the ejectment decree, 

together with reasonable interest on that value. 

 

(c) In the case of an occupancy tenant compensation shall 

also be payable for trees standing on the land which the 

occupancy tenant is entitled to cut and appropriate. 

 

(d) No tenant shall be ejected from his dwelling site, except 

after giving the tenant an option to purchase the dwelling 

site, and if the dwelling house was constructed at the 

landlord's cost, then also the dwelling house, at the 

prevailing market value. If there is any dispute as to the 

value, then the Court executing the ejectment decree shall 

determine the value after making such enquiry as it deems 

fit. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



20 

 

Procedure of 

ejectment. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Restoration of 

possession to 

tenant or under-

tenant ejected or 

whose cultivation 

is prevailed. 

54.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

54A. 

     (1) No tenant shall be ejected from his holding except in 

execution of an ejectment decree passed by a competent Civil 

Court ; and the relevant provisions of the Civil Procedure Code, 

1908, shall apply to such proceeding.       

      (2) No suit for ejectment of a tenant on the grounds mentioned 

in Section 51 (1) (2) (a) and (b) shall be entertained unless the 

landlord has first served a notice on the tenant requiring him to 

remedy, or to pay compensation for the misuse or the breach 

complained of and the tenant has failed to comply with it within 

one month of the receipt of the notice. 

      (3) If it appears to the Court trying the ejectment suit that the 

complaint of misuse or the breach is true but it is remediable, then 

it may direct the tenant to remedy the misuse or the breach or to 

pay a reasonable compensation fixed by it within a specified date, 

and if the tenant still fails to comply with the direction, shall pass 

the decree, unless there are other reasons for not passing such 
decree. 

      (4) No suit for ejectment on the ground mentioned in Section 

51 (2) (c) shall be entertained unless at first a decree for rent has 

been obtained. 

      (5) No suit for ejectment on the ground mentioned in Section 

51 (2) (d)shall be entertained , unless a three months' notice 

ending with the date of expiration of the lease has first been 

served on the tenant. 

1
[(1)   Without prejudice to any provision in any other law for the 

time being in force relating to restoration of possession, whenever 

a tenant or under-tenant referred to in Section 20 of this Act is 

ejected or caused to be ejected from his holding except in 

execution of a decree for ejectment passed by a competent Civil 

Court or whenever the cultivation of land by a tenant or under-

tenant is terminated or caused to be terminated by the landlord or 

by anybody else,then the tenant or under-tenant concerned may 

apply to the Revenue Officer having jurisdiction in the area within 

90 days of such ejectment or termination, as the case may be, or in 

case where such ejectment or termination has taken place after the 

coming into force of the Assam (Temporarily Settle Areas) 

Tenancy Act, 1971,but before the coming into force of the Assam 

(Temporary Settled Areas) Tenancy (Amendment) Act, 1974, 

within 90 days from the date of coming into force of the Assam 

(Temporarily Settled Areas) Tenancy (Amendment) Act, 1974 for 

restoration of possession and the Revenue Officer may, after such 

enquiry as he may find it necessary and after issuing notice to the 

landlord or the person preventing the cultivation of land by the 

tenant or under-tenant, order or direct that the tenant or under-
tenant be restored to the possession of the land.         

(2) On the order passed under the preceding sub-section becoming  

final under sub-section (2) of section 67, the landlord or any other 

person against whom the order is passed shall immediately restore 

possession to the tenant or under-tenant, as the case may be, If the 

 



21 

 

landlord or the person, against whom the order is directed, does 

not restore the possession within 7 days from the date of  the order 

becoming final than the Revenue Officer, on application by the 

tenant or under-tenant concerned, shall himself take possession of 

the holding and deliver it to such tenant or under-tenant, as the 

case may be.]  

 

CHAPTER X 

Preparation and maintenance of record-of-rights of tenants  

 

Power to order 

preparation of 

record-of-rights 

for tenants. 

 

55.  

 

      (1) The State Government may, where a settlement operation 

under Chapter III of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 

1886, is not being carried out at any time, make an order in the 

case of any local area, estates or part thereof directing that a 

record-of-rights, with or without survey, for all or any class or 
classes of tenants be prepared by a Settlement Officer. 

      (2) A notification in the official Gazette of an order under this 

section shall be conclusive evidence that the order has been duly 
made. 

      (3) The survey shall be made and the record-of-rights prepared 

in accordance with rules made in this behalf by the State 

Government. 

 

 

 

 

 

Particulars to be 

recorded. 

56. Where an order is made under Section 55 the particulars to be 

recorded shall be specified in the order and may include either 

without or in addition to other particulars, some or all of the 

following, namely, - 

(a)  the name of each tenant ; 

(b) the class to which the tenant belongs and the date of 

creation of the tenancy in respect of non-occupancy 
tenants ; 

(c) the area and situation of the land held by the tenant ; 

(d) the name of each tenant's landlord ; 

(e) the rent payable at the time the record-of-rights is being 

prepared ; 

(f) the mode in which that rent has been fixed whether by 
contract, by order of a Court, or otherwise ; 

(g) if the rent is a gradually increasing rent, the time at 
which and the steps by which it increases ; 

 

 

 

 

1. Ins. by Assam Act No. XVIII of 1974. 



22 

 

(h) the special conditions and incidence, if any, of the 

tenancy ; 

(i) any right of way or other easement attaching to the land 
for which the record-of-rights is being prepared :  

      Provided that, if lands are not used for purpose connected with 

agriculture, it shall be sufficient to record that fact together with 

such particulars as may be prescribed. 

Preliminary 

publication, 

amendment and 

final publication 

of record-of-

rights. 

 

57.  

 

      (1) Where a draft record-of-rights has been prepared, the 

Settlement Officer shall publish the draft in the prescribed manner 

and for the prescribed period, and shall receive and consider any 

objections which may be made to any entry therein, or to any 
omission therefrom, during the period of publication. 

      (2) Where such objections have been considered and disposed 

of according to such rules as the State Government may make, the 

Settlement Officer shall finally frame the record and shall cause it 

to be finally published in the prescribed manner and the 

publication shall be conclusive evidence that the record has been 

duly made under this Chapter. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Certificate of 

and 

presumption as 

to final 

publication and 

presumption as 

to correctness of 

record of rights. 

 

58.  

 

      (1) Where a record-of-rights has been finally published under 

section 57, the Settlement Officer shall within such time as the 

state Government may by general or special order, require, make a 

certificate stating the fact of such final publication and the date 

thereof, and shall date and subscribe the same with his name and 
official title. 

      (2) The certificate of final publication, or, in the absence of 

such certificate, a certificate signed by the Deputy Commissioner 

of a district in which the estate, or part thereof to which the record-

of-rights relates is situate, stating that a record-of-rights has been 

finally published on a specified date shall be conclusive proof of 
such publication and of the date thereof, 

      (3) The State Government may, by notification, declare with 

regard to any estate, that a record-of-rights has been finally 

published in the village in which the estate is situate and such 

notification shall be conclusive proof of such publication. 

      (4) In any suit or other proceeding in which a record-of-rights 

prepared and published under this Chapter or a duly certified copy 

thereof, or extract therefrom, is produced, such record-of-rights 

shall be presumed to have been finally published unless the 

contrary is proved. 

 

      (5) Every entry in a record-of-rights finally published shall be 

conclusive evidence of the matter referred to in such entry, and 

shall be presumed to be correct until it is proved by evidence to be 
incorrect. 

 



23 

 

Appeal to and 

revision by 

superior 

authorities. 

59.  

 

(1) An appeal, if presented within two months from the date 

of the order appealed against, shall lie to the Director of Land 

Records or any other officer or officers authorised by the State 

Government in this behalf from every order passed by a Settlement 

Officer prior to the final publication of the record-of-rights on any 

objection made. 

 

      The orders of the Director of Land Records or any other officer 

or officers authorised by the State Government in this behalf shall, 

subject to the following sub-section be final. 

 

(2) The State Government may in any case on application or 

of its own motion, direct the revision of any record-of-rights or 

any portion of a record-of-rights :  

 

      Provided that no such direction shall be made until reasonable 

notice has been given to the parties concerned to appear and be 

heard in the matter. 

 

 

 

 

Power to direct 

maintenance of 

record-of-rights. 

60 The State Government may make an order directing that the 

record-of-rights in any district, local area, estate or class of estates 

prepared under Chapter III, Part D, of the Assam Land and 

Revenue Regulation, 1886, or under this Chapter shall be 

maintained, so far as the interests of tenants of any class or classes 

are concerned, by registering all changes in the ownership 

accompanied by possession of such interests. 

 

Procedure on 

application for 

registration or 

on information 

received 

otherwise. 

61. When an order is made under section 60 the Deputy 

Commissioner or an officer invested with the powers of Deputy 

Commissioner under sections 50 to 54 of the Assam Land and 

Revenue Regulation, 1886 , who receive information through an 

application or otherwise of any change in the ownership and 

possession, of any such interest as is referred to in the foregoing 

section may make an order directing the registration of the name 

of the person so entering into ownership and possession: 

Provided that- 

(a) the information has been verified by local enquiry made by an 

officer having the powers of Deputy Commissioner under 

sections 50 to 54 of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 

1886, or 

(b) notice has been published and enquiry held in a manner 

similar to that prescribed by Sections 52 and 53 of the Assam 

Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886. 

 

Application to 

set aside order 

directing the 

registration. 

62. Where any person is aggrieved by an order directing registration 

under Section 61 which has been made after verification of the 

information received by local enquiry only, he may apply to the 

officer passing the order or his successor in office to set aside the 

order and on receipt of such application the officer receiving it 

shall cancel the registration and then proceed to publish the notice 

and hold the enquiry as in clause (b) of the proviso to Section 61. 

 



24 

 

 

CHAPTER XI 

Miscellaneous 

Surrenders. 63. No tenant shall voluntarily surrender his holding except with the 

prior permission from the Deputy Commissioner and any 

voluntary surrender shall not be valid- 

(1) if such surrender is not approved by the Deputy 

Commissioner ; 

(2)  if the tenant does not give at least 3 months notice in 

writing to the landlord ; and 

(3)  if it is done without the consent and approval of the 

encumbrancer or under-tenant or tenant when there is an 

encumbrancer or an under-tenant or tenants as the case 

may be :  

 

      Provided that the landlord shall not be eligible to 

resume the land for personal cultivation. The Deputy 

Commissioner may, when he permits a surrender place a 

landless Agriculturist in the holding who shall, thereafter, 
become a non-occupancy tenant of the landlord. 

 

Abandonment. 64.      (1) If a tenant not being an occupancy tenant voluntarily 

abandons his usual residence in the village or the neighbourhood 

without notice to his landlord and without arranging for payment 

of his rent, ceases to cultivate his holding, either by himself or by 

some other person, and is not traceable in spite of the best efforts 

of the landlord, then the landlord may, at any time after expiration 

of two years from the date of the tenant's ceasing to cultivate the 

holding, and after giving information to the Deputy Commissioner 

and obtaining his permission thereto enter on the holding. 

    (2) If the landlord is a proprietor or a landholder, he may let it 

out to another tenant subject to the provisions of any law for the 

time being in force, or cultivate the land himself ; but if the 

landlord is himself a tenant, he shall not let it out again to an 

under-tenant. 

      (3) If the tenant abandoning the land has an under-tenant 

below him existing from a date prior to commencement of this Act 

the said under-tenant shall become a tenant under the landlord on 

the same terms and conditions as those on which the tenant who 

abandoned the land had held it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merger. 65.  When the landlord of any tenant's holding is a proprietor, 

landholder or settlement holder and the entire interests of the 

 



25 

 

 landlord and the tenant in the holding become united in the same 

person by transfer, succession or otherwise, such person shall have 

no right to hold the land as a tenant but shall hold it as a 

proprietor, land holder or settlement holder, as the case may be ; 

but nothing in this section shall prejudicially affect the rights of 

any third person. 

Matters 

exempted from 

cognizance of 

civil Court. 

66.  

 

Except where otherwise expressly provided for in this Act or the 

Rules made thereunder,  no Civil Court shall exercise jurisdiction 

in any of the following matters,- 

(a) Claims to enhancement, reduction or alteration of rent 

of holdings ; 

(b) Claims to deposit rent ; 

(c) Preparation of record-of-rights under Chapter X and 

preparatior, signing, or alteration of any document 

contained therein ; 
(d) Maintenance of record-of-rights ;  

1[ (e) Claims to restoration of possession under Section 54 A.] 

In these matters, the jurisdiction shall only be with the 

Revenue Court or Officer as the case may be. 

 

Appeals. 

 

67. 

 

(1) In all proceedings under this Act before a Revenue Officer or 

in a Revenue Court, except those in connection with preparation of 

record-of-rights under Chapter X and except where otherwise 

expressly provided for, appeals shall lie as follows:- 

(a) to the Assam Board of Revenue from original order of 

the Deputy Commissioner or the Settlement Officer, 

within 60 days of the order appealed against ; 

 

(b) to the Deputy Commissioner or the Settlement Officer, 

within 30 days of the order appealed against,  from 

orders passed by any Revenue Officer subordinate to 

him, even if the latter was exercising the delegated 

power of the Deputy Commissioner or the Settlement 

Officer when passing such order. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Ins. by Assam Act No. XVIII of 1974. 

 



26 

 

1[ (2) The appellate order of the Assam Board of Revenue, the 

order of the Deputy Commissioner or the Settlement Officer when 

to appeal is preferred, the appellate order of the Deputy 

Commissioner or the Settlement Officer, the order of the Revenue 

Officer including order passed by him in exercise of delegated 

power of the Deputy Commissioner or Settlement Officer when no 

appeal is filed shall be final.]      

Jurisdiction of 

Civil Court. 

68.  

 

Except as provided in Sections 66 and 67 the Civil Court shall 

have jurisdiction in all suits between landlord and tenant as such. 

 

Power to modify 

Civil Procedure 

Code in its 

application to 

landlord and 

tenant suits. 

69.       (I) The State Government may, from time to time. make rules 

consistent with this Act declaring that any portion of the Civil 

Procedure Code, 1908, shall not apply to suits between landlord 

and tenants as such or to any specified classes of such suits or 
apply to them subject to modifications specified in the rules. 

      (II) Subject to any rules made under the foregoing section and 

to the other provisions of this Act, the Code of Civil Procedure, 

1908, shall apply to all such suits. 

 

Delegation of 

Powers. 

 

 

70. The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, 

invest generally or for special purposes and with such restrictions 

or conditions as it deems fit, - 

(a) any Revenue Officer or Assistant Settlement Officer 

with all or any of the powers of the Deputy 

Commissioner or the Settlement Officer ; and 

 

(b)  any Settlement Officer with all or any of the powers of 

the Deputy Commissioner for the purposes of and under 
this Act. 

 

Penalties. 71.  

 

Whoever-- 

(i) wilfully fails or neglects to comply with any requirements 

made of him under this Act, or 

 

(ii)  contravenes any lawful order passed under this Act, or 

 

(iii)  obstructs the Deputy Commissioner or the Revenue  

Officer or any Officer authorised by him in taking any 

lawful possession under this Act, or 

 

(iv)  willfully contravenes any provisions made in this Act or 

Rules made thereunder, or 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Ins. by Assam Act No. XVIII of 1974. 

 



27 

 

(v)  furnishes information which he knows or believes to be 

false or does not believe to be true, shall, on conviction 

before a Magistrate, and in addition to any other action that 

may be taken against him, be punishable with imprisonment 

which may extend to 6 months or with fine which may 

extend to one thousand rupees or with both. 

Protection of 

action taken in 

good faith. 

72.  

 

 No suit or proceeding or other legal proceeding shall lie against 

any person for anything done in good faith in pursuance of any of 

the provisions of the Act or the Rules or orders made thereunder. 

 

Power to order 

production of 

documents, etc. 

73.  

 

The Deputy Commissioner, may, for the purpose of this Act, 

require any person to produce any documents, paper or register 

which is in his possession or under his control, or to furnish any 

information which he may think necessary for the proper 

discharge of any duties under this Act. 

 

Power for 

enforcing 

attendance, etc. 

74.  

 

   Any officer, or authority holding an enquiry or hearing an appeal 

under this Act, shall have the power of a Civil Court under the 

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 in respect of,- 

(a) enforcing attendance of any person and his examination on 

oath ; 

 

(b)  compelling production of document ; and 

 

(c)  issue of Commission. 

 

 

Power to make 

rules. 

 

75.       (1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official 

Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of the Act. 

      (2) Every rule made under this section shall be laid as soon as 

may be after it is made, before the State Legislature while it is in 

session for a total period of fourteen days which may be comprised 

in one session or in two successive sessions, and if, before the 

expiry of the session in which it is so laid or the session 

immediately following, the Legislature agrees in making any 

modification in the rule or that the rule should not be made, the 

rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be 

of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such 

modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the 
validity of anything previously done under that rule. 

 

 

 

Repeal and 

Saving. 

76.       (1) The Assam (Temporarily Settled Districts) Tenancy Act, 

1935 and the Assam Adhiar Protection and Regulation Act, 1948 

are hereby repealed. 

      (2) Notwithstanding such repeal ; 

Assam Act. 

III of 1935 

Assam Act 

XII of 1948. 



28 

 

(a) any rule made, any order issued, any notification 

published, any proceeding commenced, any action taken, 

or any thing whatsoever done under the Acts repealed, 

shall continue and be deemed to have continued and have 

effect as if made, issued , published, commenced, taken, 

or done under the provisions of this Act ; 

 

(b) any action taken, order made, or other acts and things 

done by any officer acting or purporting to act under the 

Acts repealed shall be valid and shall be deemed always 

to have been valid and shall not be called in question in 

any Court on the ground of incompetency of the Officer 
to act under the Acts repealed 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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About this act

Jurisdiction
Assam
Enactment date
1971-12-03
Sections available
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Source and version

India Code, Government of India. Text fetched 11 Oct 2026. Check the linked official text and subsequent notifications when applying a provision.

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THE ASSAM (TEMPORARILY SETTLED AREAS) TENANCY ACT 1971 (SINGLE DOCUMENT) | NYAYA SIGNAL

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