The Himachal Pradesh Abolition of Land Revenue on Uneconomic Holdings Act,1977

THE HIMACHAL PRADESH ABOLITION OF LAND REVENUE ON 

UN-ECONOMIC HOLDINGS ACT, 1977 

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 

Section: 

1.  Short title and commencement. 

2.  Definitions. 

3.  Abolition of land revenue on un-economic holdings. 

4.  Bar on certain transfers. 

5.  Power to remove difficulty. 

6.  Repeal and savings. 

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THE HIMACHAL PRADESH ABOLITION OF LAND REVENUE ON 

UN-ECONOMIC HOLDINGS ACT, 1977 

(ACT No. 2 of 1978)1 

(Received the assent of the Governor of Himachal Pradesh on the 7
th
 

February, 1978 and was published in R. H. P. Extra., dated the 13
th
 February, 

1978, P. 85-86).  

An Act to provide for abolition of land revenue on un-economic holdings in 

Himachal Pradesh. 

Amended, repealed or otherwise affected by,- 

H. P. Ordinance No. 4 of 1977, published in R. H. P. Extra, dated 

25-10-77, P. 1069-1070. 

BE it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Himachal Pradesh in the 

Twenty-eighth Year of the Republic of India as follows:- 

1. Short title and commencement.- (1) This Act may be called the 

Himachal Pradesh Abolition of Land Revenue on Un-economic Holdings Act, 

1977. 

(2) It shall come into force at once. 

2. Definitions.-In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,- 

(a)  "land holding" means the total land in the State in possession of a 

person whether as owner, mortgagee, lessee, tenant or in any other 

lawful capacity and if such a person holds land jointly with others, 

his share in such holding; 

(b)  "un-economic holding'' means a land holding which does not exceed 

                                                 
1. For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see R. H. P. Extra, dated 31-12-1977 p. 1209. 

For its Authoritative Hindi Text see R. H. P. Extra, dated 29-6-1991, p. 1507. 



2  H. P. ABOLITION OF LAND REVENUE ON UN-ECONOMIC    

HOLDINGS ACT, 1977 

two-and-a half acres and comprises of un-irrigated cultivated land or 

of such land which has been recorded as "banjar kadim" "banjar 

Jadid" or grass lands, by whatever name called i.e. "ghasnis", 

"kharetars", "rutas" etc., but does not include land under orchards or 

built up areas assessed to land revenue; 

(c)  all other terms and expressions used herein, but not defined in this 

Act, shall have the same meanings as assigned to them in the 

Himachal Pradesh Land Revenue Act, 1953 (6 of 1954). 

3. Abolition of Land revenue on un-economic holdings.- 

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Himachal Pradesh Land Revenue Act, 

1953 (6 of 1954), the land revenue on un-economic holdings shall stand abolished 

from Rabi 1977; and, the landowner who at the commencement of this Act holds 

un-economic holding, shall not be liable to pay any land revenue in respect of his 

land holding to the State. 

4. Bar on certain transfers.-(1) All transfers of land made after the 4th 

day of July, 1977, except the transfer of land made to the Union Government or to 

the State Government or a bonafide transfer by a land holder or any transfer of 

land by operation of law, to defeat the purpose of the Act, shall not affect the 

liability of the landholder to pay the land revenue to the State. 

(2) The Collector of the District in which such transfer or transfers take 

place, shall determine whether a transfer is bonafide or not and his decision shall 

be final. 

5. Power to remove difficulty.-If any difficulty arises in giving effect to 

the provisions of this Act, the State Government may, by order to be published in 

the Official Gazette or otherwise, make such provisions, or give such directions, 

not inconsistent with this Act, as may appear to it to be necessary or expedient for 

the removal of such difficulty. 

6. Repeal and savings.-(1) The Himachal Pradesh Abolition of Land 

Revenue on Un-economic Holdings Ordinance, 1977 (4 of 1977) is hereby 

repealed. 

(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under 

the aforesaid Ordinance shall be deemed to have been done or taken under the 

corresponding provisions of this Act as if this Act was in force on the day on 

which such thing was done or action was taken. 

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