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THE TELANGANA LAND REFORMS (CEILING ON AGRICULTURAL
HOLDINGS) ACT, 1973.
(ACT No.1 OF 1973.)
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Sections
1. Short title, extent and commencement.
2. Declaration as to giving effect to certain directive
principles.
3. Definitions.
4. Ceiling area.
4-A. Increase of ceiling area in certain cases.
5. Standard holding for different classes of lands
and computation.
6. Constitution of Tribunal.
7. Special provision in respect of certain transfers
etc., already made.
8. Declaration of holding.
9. Determination of ceiling area.
9-A. Re opening of cases by the Tribunal.
10. Surrender of land in certain cases.
11. Vesting of land surrendered.
12. Revision and vesting of land surrendered.
13. Special provision for protected tenants.
14. Disposal of land vested in Government.
15. Amount payable for lands vested in Government.
16. Claims for the amount payable.
17. Prohibition of alienation of holding.
2 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
18. Declaration of future acquisitions.
19. Declaration to be furnished before registering
officer.
20. Appeal.
21. Revision.
22. Power of authorities under this Act.
23. Exemptions.
24. Penalty.
25. Protection of action taken under this Act.
26. Bar of jurisdiction.
27. Power to make rules.
28. Act to override other laws.
29. Power to remove difficulties.
30. Repeals.
First Schedule.
Second Schedule.
THE TELANGANA LAND REFORMS (CEILING ON
AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS) ACT, 1973.1
ACT No.1 OF 1973.
1. (1) This Act may be called the 2Telangana Land Reforms
(Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings) Act,1973.
(2) It extends to the whole of the State of 2Telangana.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the
Government may, by notification in the 2Telangana Gazette,
appoint.
2. It is hereby declared that this Act is for giving effect to
the policy of the State towards securing the principles
specified in clauses (b) and (c) of article 39 of the
Constitution of India.
3. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) ‗Appellate Tribunal‘ means the Appellate Tribunal
constituted under section 20; and where no such Appellate
Tribunal is in existence, the District Collector concerned;
(b) ‗bank‘ means a banking company as defined in
section 5 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, and includes
the State Bank in India, constituted by the State Bank of
India Act, 1955, a subsidiary bank as defined in the State
1. The Andhra Pradesh Land Reforms (Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings)
Act, 1973 received the assent of the President on the 1st January, 1973.
The said Act in force in the combined State, as on 02.06.2014, has been
adapted to the State of Telangana, under section 101 of the Andhra
Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 (Central Act 6 of 2014) vide. the
Telangana Adaptation of Laws Order, 2016, issued in G.O.Ms.No.45,
Law (F) Department, dated 01.06.2016.
2. Substituted by G.O.Ms.No.45, Law (F) Department, dated 01.06.2016.
Definitions.
Short title, extent
and
commencement.
Declaration as to
giving effect to
certain directive
principles.
Central Act 10 of 1949.
Central Act 23 of 1955.
2 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks) Act, 1959, and a
corresponding new bank as defined in the Banking
Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertaking) Act,
1970, and such other financial institution owned, controlled
or managed by a State Government or the Central
Government as may be notified in this behalf by the
Government;
(c) ‗ceiling area‘ means the extent of land 3[specified in
section 4 or section 4-A] to be the ceiling area;
(d) ‗double crop wet land‘ means any wet land
registered as double crop or compounded double crop wet
land in the land revenue accounts of the Government and
includes any wet land not so registered,-
(i) for which in accordance with any scheme of
localisation being adopted under any Government source of
irrigation, water is available in both the first and second crop
seasons during a fasli year including the lands covered by
Schedule-B and Part II of Schedule-C appended to the draft
rules for the irrigation of lands in the Godavari Western,
Eastern and Central deltas published in the Rules
Supplement to Part-II Extraordinary of the Andhra Pradesh
Gazette, dated the 16th July, 1962;
(ii) on which two crops per fasli year have or a
dufassal crop has been raised with the use of water from a
Government source of irrigation in any four fasli years within
a continuous period of six fasli years immediately before the
specified date;
(iii) which is capable of raising two crops per fasli
year with the use of water from a tube-well constructed by
the Government or any person:
3. Substituted by Act No.10 of 1977.
Central Act 38 of 1959.
Central Act 5 of 1970.
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 3
Provided that-
(a) any land entitled to the supply of water from a
Government source of irrigation and on which two irrigated
crops per fasli year have or a dufassal crop has, not been
raised with the use of water from such source, in any four
fasli years within a continuous period of six fasli years
immediately before the specified date, for want of supply of
water from such source;
(b) any land for which in accordance with any
scheme of localisation being adopted under any
Government source of irrigation, water is made available
during the second crop season solely in consideration of the
likelihood of the loss of the first crop on account of
submersion, salinity, tidal action or the like;
(c) any land to which water has been specifically
supplied on a temporary basis for raising a second crop by
diversion of water intended for eventual utilisation
elsewhere;
(d) any land irrigated by a Government source of
irrigation covered by proviso (iii) to sub-section (1) of
section 5;
shall not be deemed to be double crop wet land;
(e) ‗dryland‘ means land registered as dry, manavari,
asmantari, baghat or garden land, or special rate dry land,
in the land revenue accounts of the Government or
assessed as such; and includes any other land, excluding
wet land;
(f) ‗family unit‘ means-
4 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
(i) in the case of an individual who has a spouse or
spouses, such individual, the spouse or spouses and their
minor sons and their unmarried minor daughters, if any;
(ii) in the case of an individual who has no spouse
such individual and his or her minor sons and unmarried
minor daughters;
(iii) in the case of an individual who is a divorced
husband and who has not remarried, such individual and his
minor sons and unmarried minor daughters, whether in his
custody or not; and
(iv) where an individual and his or her spouse are
both dead, their minor sons and unmarried minor
daughters.
Explanation.-Where a minor son is married, his wife and
their offspring, if any, shall also be deemed to be members
of the family unit of which the minor son is a member;
(g) ‗Government‘ means the State Government;
(h) ‗Government source of irrigation‘ means a source of
irrigation registered in the land revenue accounts of the
Government as such, including a well constructed or
maintained by the Government or any local authority; but
does not include a spring channel, parrekalava, naddinala,
vagunala, kasam, Sona, bila, uppalwat bonda, doruvu,
bhurki, kole or cross-bunding;
(i) ‗holding‘ means the entire land held by a person,-
(i) as an owner;
(ii) as a limited owner;
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 5
(iii) as an usufructuary mortgagee;
(iv) as a tenant;
(v) who is in possession by virtue of a mortgage by
conditional sale or through part performance of a contract
for the sale of land or otherwise; or in one or more of such
capacities; and the expression ―to hold land‖ shall be
construed accordingly.
Explanation.-Where the same land is held by one
person in one capacity and by another person in any other
capacity, such land shall be included in the holding of both
such persons.
(j) ‗land‘ means land which is used or is capable of
being used for purposes of agriculture, or for purposes
ancillary thereto, including horticulture, forest land, pasture
land, waste land, plantation and tope; and includes land
deemed to be agricultural land under this Act;
Explanation I.-Where any land is held under ryotwari
settlement it shall, unless the contrary is proved, be deemed
to be land under this Act;
Explanation II.-‗land‘ shall not include the land
appurtenant to a building;
(k) ‗law‘ includes any enactment, Ordinance, regulation,
order, bye-law, rule, scheme, notification or other instrument
having the force of law;
(l) ‗notification‘ means a notification published in the
Telangana Gazette; and the expression "notify" shall be
construed accordingly;
6 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
(m) ‗notified date‘ means the date notified under sub-
section (3) of section 1;
(n) ‗owner‘ includes a person by whom or in whose
favour a trust is created 4[xxx] 5[but does not include a
limited owner;] and
in the case of any land not held under ryotwari settlement, a
person who is or would be entitled to the grant of a ryotwari
patta or to the registration as an occupant in respect of such
land under any law for the time being in force providing for
the conversion of such land into ryotwari tenure and where
there is no such law any person holding such land
immediately before the specified date otherwise than in any
one of the capacities specified in items (ii) to (v) of clause
(i);
(o) ‗person‘ includes an individual, a family unit, a
trustee, a company, a firm, a society or an association of
individuals, whether incorporated or not;
(p) ‗prescribed‘ means prescribed by rules made by the
Government under this Act;
(q) ‗Revenue Divisional Officer‘ means the Revenue
Divisional Officer within whose jurisdiction the land is
situated and includes any officer of the Revenue Department
not below the rank of a Deputy Collector empowered by the
Government to exercise the powers and perform the
functions of the Revenue Divisional Officer under this Act;
(r) ‗specified date‘ means-
4. Omitted by Act No.10 of 1977.
5. Added by Act No.10 of 1977.
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 7
(i) in the case of a declaration required to be filed
under section 8, the notified date; and
(ii) in the case of a declaration required to be filed
under section 18, the date of acquisition, usufructuary
mortgage, lease, marriage, adoption or alteration in the
classification of the land referred to therein, as the case may
be;
(s) ‗standard holding‘ means the extent of land specified
in section 5 to be the standard holding;
(t) ‗tenant‘ means a person who cultivates by his own
labour or by that of any other member of his family or by
hired labour under his supervision and control, any land
belonging to another under a tenancy agreement, express
or implied; and includes a person who is deemed to be a
tenant under any tenancy law, for the time being in force;
(u) ‗Tribunal‘ means a Tribunal constituted under
section 6; and where no such Tribunal is in existence, the
Revenue Divisional Officer concerned;
(v) ‗wet land‘ means land registered as wet, single crop
wet, double crop wet, compounded double crop wet or
special rate wet land, in the land revenue accounts of the
Government or assessed as such; and includes any land
not registered as wet which has been-
(i) included in the ayacut of any Government source
of irrigation;
(ii) irrigated by water from any Government source of
irrigation in any four fasli years within a continuous period of
six fasli years immediately before the specified date; or
8 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
(iii) irrigated by a tube well constructed by the
Government or any person:
Provided that any land which has been registered as
wet land in the land revenue accounts of the Government
and on which no irrigated crop has been raised with the use
of water from a Government source of irrigation in any four
fasli years within a continuous period of six fasli years
immediately before the specified date for want of supply of
water from such source shall not be deemed to be wet land.
4. (1) The ceiling area in the case of a family unit
consisting of not more than five members shall be an extent
of land equal to one standard holding.
(2) The ceiling area in the case of a family unit
consisting of more than five members shall be an extent of
land equal to one standard holding plus an additional extent
of one-fifth of one standard holding for every such member
in excess of five, so however that the ceiling area shall not
exceed two standard holdings.
(3) The ceiling area in the case of every individual who is
not a member of a family unit, and in the case of any other
person shall be an extent of land equal to one standard
holding.
Explanation.-ln the case of a family unit, the ceiling area
shall be applied to the aggregate of the lands held by all the
members of the family unit.
6[4-A. Notwithstanding anything in section 4, where an
individual or an individual who is a member of a family unit,
has one or more major sons and any such major son either
6. Section 4-A, along with marginal heading inserted by Act No.10 of
1977.
Increase of ceiling
area in certain
cases.
Ceiling area.
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 9
by himself or together with other members of the family unit
of which he is a member, holds no land or holds an extent of
land less than the ceiling area, then, the ceiling area, in the
case of the said individual or the family unit of which the
said individual is a member computed in accordance with
section 4, shall be increased in respect of each such major
son by an extent of land equal to the ceiling area applicable
to such major son or the family unit of which he is a
member, or as the case may be, by the extent of land by
which the land held by such major son or the family unit of
which he is member falls short of the ceiling area.]
5. (1) For the purposes of this Act, land shall be classified
as set out in the First Schedule. The extent of land which
shall constitute a standard holding for the class of lands
specified in column (1) of the Table below shall be as
specified against it in column (2) thereof:
Provided that-
(i) in the case of any double crop wet land falling
under sub-clause (i) of clause (d) of section 3, covered by
Part II of Schedule-C appended to the draft rules referred to
in that sub-clause for the irrigation of lands in the Godavari
Western, Eastern and Central deltas, the extent of standard
holding shall be increased by twelve and a half per centum;
7[(ii) in the case of any double crop wet land irrigated
solely by a private tube well, the extent of standard holding
shall be increased by twenty-five per centum, so however,
that the said extent shall in no case exceed 7.28 hectares
(18 acres);]
(iii) in the case of any wet land irrigated by a
Government source of irrigation classified as Class V in the
7. Substituted by Act No.9 of 1974.
Standard holding
for different
classes of lands
and computation.
10 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
settlement or revenue accounts of the Government,
excluding a source fed by a project, river, nala or channel in
the Andhra area; and in the case of wet land irrigated by
similar source notified by the Government in this behalf in
the Telangana area, the extent of standard holding shall be
increased by sixteen and one-fourth per centum;
(iv) in the case of any dry land situated in any area
declared by the Government by notification to be a
droughtprone area, the extent of standard holding shall be
increased,-
(a) by twelve and a half per centum, in the case of
any dry land falling under Class G or Class H of the Table
below; and
(b) by twenty per centum, in the case of any dry
land falling under Class I, Class J or Class K of the said
Table;
(v) in the case of any land in the Telangana area
situated in any tract in respect of which the settlement
operations were conducted by an agency other than the
Government, if the land falls within Class A, Class B, Class
C, Class D, or Class E of the Table below the ceiling area
shall be computed as if the land fell within Class B, Class C,
Class D,Class E or Class F of the said Table respectively
and if the land falls within Class G, Class H, Class I or Class
J, the ceiling area shall be computed as if such land fell
within Class H, Class I, Class J or Class K respectively;
8[(vi) in the case of any lanka or padugai land, or any
land on which a coconut garden, a guava garden or a grape
garden is raised, the extent of standard holding shall in no
case exceed 10.93 hectares (27 acres).]
8. Substituted by Act No.9 of 1974.
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 11
TABLE
Class of land
(1)
Extent of Standard
Holding.
(2)
Wet Double crop wet land
(a)
Wet land other
than double crop
wet land.
(b)
Hectares Hectares
Class A .. 4.05 (10 acres) 6.07 (15 acres)
Class B .. 4.86 (12 acres) 7.28 (18 acres)
Class C .. 5.46 (13.5 acres) 8.09 (20 acres)
Class D .. 6.07 (15 acres) 9.11 (22.5 acres)
Class E .. 6.68 (16.5 acres) 10.12 (25 acres)
Class F .. 7.28 (18 acres) 10.93 (27 acres)
Dry Dry
Class G .. .. 14.16 (35 acres)
Class H .. .. 16.19 (40 acres)
Class I .. .. 18.21 (45 acres)
Class J .. .. 20.23 (50 acres)
Class K .. .. 21.85 (54 acres)
(2) In computing the holding of a person or family unit
consisting of lands of different classes, the relative
proportion of the extent of land of each such Class to the
extent of a standard holding of the appropriate Class shall
be taken into account in the manner prescribed and the
aggregate of all such proportions shall be deemed to be the
holding of the person or the family unit, in relation to the
ceiling area.
(3) In computing the holding of an individual who is not
a member of a family unit, but is a member of a joint family,
the share of such an individual in the lands held by the joint
family shall be taken into account and aggregated with the
lands, if any held by him separately and for this purpose,
12 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
such share shall be deemed to be the extent of land which
would be allotted to such individual had there been a
partition of the lands held by the joint family.
(4) In computing the holding of the member of a family
unit who is also a member of a joint family, the share of such
member in the lands held by the joint family shall be taken
into account and aggregated with the lands, if any, held by
him separately and for this purpose, such share shall be
deemed to be the extent of land which would be allotted to
such member, had there been a partition of the lands held
by the joint family.
(5) Where an individual or a member of the family unit is
a member of a co-operative society, company or firm the
share of such individual or member of a family unit in the
land held by such co-operative society, company or firm
shall be also included in the holding of the individual or
member of the family unit, as the case may be, and for this
purpose the share of the land so held shall be deemed to be
the extent of the land which would have been allotted to him
on a winding up of the co-operative society or company or
dissolution of the firm.
(6) Lands owned or held under a private trust shall,-
(a) in a case where the trust is revocable by the
author of the trust, be deemed to be held by such author or
his successor-in-interest; and
(b) in other cases, be deemed to be held by the
beneficiaries of the trust in proportion to their respective
interests in such trust, or the income derived thereform.
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 13
Explanation.-Where a trust is partly private and partly
public, this sub-section shall apply only to lands covered by
that part of the assets of the trust which is relatable to the
private trust.
6. (1) The Government may, by notification, constitute as
many Tribunals as may be necessary for the purposes of
this Act, and shall specify in such notification, the jurisdiction
of each such Tribunal.
(2) Each Tribunal constituted under sub-section (1) shall
consist of not more than three members, of whom one shall
be a person who holds or has held a civil post under the
State, not below the rank of a Deputy Collector, or a person
who holds or has held or is qualified to hold the post of a
District Munsif; and such person shall be the Chairman of
the Tribunal.
(3) The Government may, from time to time, likewise
reconstitute any Tribunal consitituted under sub-section (1)
or may at any time abolish such Tribunal.
(4) The quorum to constitute a meeting of the Tribunal
and the procedure to be followed by it shall be such as may
be prescribed.
(5) No act or proceeding of any such Tribunal shall be
deemed to be invalid by reason only of the existence of any
vacancy among its members or any defect in the
constitution or reconstitution thereof.
7. (1) Where on or after the 24th January, 1971 but before
the notified date, any person has transferred whether by
way of sale, gift, usufructuary mortgage, exchange,
settlement, surrender or in any other manner whatsoever,
any land held by him or created a trust of any land held by
him, then the burden of proving that such transfer or
Constitution of
Tribunal.
Special provision
in respect of
certain transfers
etc., already
made.
14 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
creation of trust has not been effected in anticipation of, and
with a view to avoiding or defeating the objects of any law
relating to a reduction in the ceiling on agricultural holdings,
shall be on such person, and where he has not so,proved,
such transfer or creation of trust, shall be disregarded for
the purpose of the computation of the ceiling area of such
person.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in sub-section (1), any
alienation made by way of sale, lease for a period exceeding
six years, gift, exchange, usufructuary mortage or otherwise,
any partition effected or trust created of a holding or any
part thereof, or any such transaction effected in execution of
a decree or order of a civil court or of any award or order of
any other authority, on or after the 2nd May, 1972 and
before the notified date, in contravention of the provisions of
9the Andhra Pradesh Agricultural Lands (Prohibition of
Alienation) Act, 1972 shall be null and void.
(3) Where at any time within a period of five years before
the notified date, any person has converted any agricultural
land held by him into a non-agricultural land, then the land
so converted shall be deemed to be agricultural land on the
notified date for the purposes of this Act.
(4) Where on or after the 24th January, 1971 but before
the notified date,-
(a) any declaration of dissolution of marriage has
been made by a court on an application made on or after
the 24th January, 1971; or
(b) any other dissolution of marriage in accordance
with any law or custom has taken place, then the land held
by each spouse immediately before the date of such
9. Repealed under section 30 (2) of this Act.
Act 13 of 1972.
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 15
dissolution shall, for the purpose of this Act, be deemed to
be land held on the notified date by the family unit of which
they were members immediately before such dissolution.
(5) Where on or after the 24th January, 1971 but before
the notified date, any person has been given in adoption,
then the land held by such person immediately before the
date of such adoption shall, for the purposes of this Act, be
deemed to be held on the notified date by the family unit of
which he was a member immediately before such adoption.
(6) In every case referred to in sub-section (4) or sub-
section (5), the computation of the ceiling area shall first be
made in respect of the family unit referred to in the said sub-
section, and after the surrender of the land held in excess of
the ceiling area by such family unit, the remaining land held
by such divorced spouse or adopted person, as the case
may be, shall be included in the holding of such divorced
spouse or adopted person, whether as an individual or as a
member of a family unit of which such spouse or person has
become a member.
(7) If any question arises,-
(a) whether any transfer or creation of a trust effected
on or after the 24th January, 1971 had been effected in
anticipation of, and with a view to avoiding or defeating the
objects of, any law relating to a reduction in the ceiling on
agricultural holdings;
(b) whether any alienation made, partition effected or
trust created on or after the 2nd May, 1972 is null and void;
(c) whether any conversion of agricultural land into
non-agricultural land had taken place within a period of five
years before the notified date;
16 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
(d) whether any dissolution of a marriage had taken
place on or after the 24th January, 1971 either on an
application made on or after the said date, or in accordance
with any law or custom;
(e) whether any person had been given in adoption
on or after the 24th January, 1971;
such question shall be determined by the Tribunal, after
giving an opportunity of being heard to the affected parties,
and its decision thereon shall, subject to an appeal and a
revision under this Act, be final.
(8) If the Tribunal decides that any transfer or creation of
trust had been effected in anticipation of, and with a view to
avoiding or defeating the objects of, any law relating to a
reduction in the ceiling on agricultural holdings or that any
alienation made or partition effected or trust created is null
and void and if as a result of such transfer, alienation or
creation of trust, the holding of the person or the family unit,
that remains on the notified date does not exceed the extent
of land that he or the family unit is liable to surrender then,
the Tribunal shall treat the entire holding thus left over as the
extent of land to be surrendered under the provisions of this
Act by the person or the family unit, as the case may be:
Provided that the balance of extent of land that remains
liable to be surrendered by the person or family unit shall,
subject to such rules as may be prescribed, be surrendered
by the alienee who is in possession of such holding by
virtue of any transaction effected in contravention of the
provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Agricultural Lands
(Prohibition of Alienation) Act, 1972.
8. (1) Every person, whose holding on the notified date
together with any land transferred by him on or of holding,
after the 24th January, 1971 whether by way of sale,gift
Declaration of
holding.
Act 13 of 1972.
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 17
usufructuary mortgage, exchange, settlement surrender or
in any other manner whatsoever, and any land in respect of
which a trust has been created by him on or after the 24th
January, 1971, exceeds the specified limit, shall, within thirty
days from the notified date or within such extended period
as the Government may notify in this behalf, furnish a
declaration in respect of his holding together with such land,
to the Tribunal within whose jurisdiction the whole or a
major part of his holding is situate containing such
particulars including those relating to lands held by him in
any part of India outside the State, and in such form as may
be prescribed.
Explanation I.- Where the land is held or is deemed to
be held by a minor, lunatic, an idiot or other person subject
to like disability, not being a member of the family unit, the
declaration shall be furnished by the guardian, manager or
other person in charge of the property of such person; and
where the land is held or is deemed to be held by a
company, firm, association or other corporate body, the
declaration shall be furnished by any person competent to
act for such company, firm, association or corporate body in
this behalf.
Explanation II.- Where the land is held or is deemed to
be held by a family unit, the declaration shall be furnished
by a person in management of the property of such family
unit and the declaration so furnished shall be binding on all
the members of the family unit:
Provided that the Tribunal shall, in the event of a dispute
as to the declaration furnished by the person in
management, give to the other members of the family unit
an opportunity of making their representation or of adducing
evidence, if any, in respect of such declaration and shall
consider such representations and evidence before
determining the ceiling area under this Act.
18 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
Explanation III.- In this sub-section, specified limit
means,-
(a) in the case of wet land-4.05 hectares (10 acres);
(b) in case of dry land-10.12 hectares (25 acres); and
for the purpose of computing the specified limit in a case
where the holding of any person includes both wet land and
dry land, one hectare of wet land shall be deemed to be
equal to two and half hectares of dry land.
(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section
(1), the Tribunal shall have power to issue notice requiring
any person holding land or residing within its jurisdiction
who, it has reason to believe, holds or is deemed to hold
land in excess of the ceiling area to furnish a declaration of
his holding, or that of his family unit, under sub-section (1),
within such period as may be specified in the notice not
being less than fifteen days from the date of its
communication, and such person shall furnish the
declaration accordingly.
(3) If any person who is liable to furnish a declaration
under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) fails to furnish the
declaration within the specified time, the Tribunal may
obtain the necessary information in such manner as may be
prescribed.
9. The Tribunal shall on receipt of the declaration furnished
or information obtained under section 8, publish the same,
and make an enquiry, in such manner as may be
prescribed, and pass orders determining whether the
person holds or is deemed to hold on the notified date an
extent of land in excess of the ceiling area and if so, the
extent of land so held in excess as on that date.
Determination of
ceiling area.
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 19
Explanation.-Save as otherwise provided in this Act, in
the case of a family unit, the number of members of the
family unit shall be reckoned with reference to the notified
date.
10[9A. (1) Notwithstanding anything repugnant to the
provisions of this Act, in respect of cases where, it is found
that orders were passed due to any fraud or
misrepresentation or suppression of facts, and where no
subsequent orders were passed in appeal or revision, on
the same, the Tribunal may, either suo motu or on
application or direction of the Collector, Chief Commissioner
of land Administration or Government, re-open such cases
and pass orders, afresh as if no decleration has been filed
under section 8 of the Act:
Provided that, in respect of cases where, it is found that
orders were passed due to any fraud or misrepresentation
or suppression of facts and where subsequent orders were
passed in appeal or revision, confirming such orders the
Tribunal may, either suo motu or on application or direction
of the Collector, Chief Commissioner of Land Administration
or Government, review such cases and pass orders for filing
of review petition against the orders in appeal or as the case
may be the orders of revision, in the court or the authority,
which passed such orders:
Provided further, that no order shall be passed without
giving an opportunity of being heard to the parties
interested.
(2) The provisions of the Limitation Act, 1963 shall not
apply to initiation of action under sub-section (1).]
10. Section 9-A along with marginal heading inserted by Act No.17 of
2012.
Re-opening of
cases by the
Tribunal.
Central Act 36 of 1963.
20 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
10. (1) If the extent of the holding of a person is in excess of
the ceiling area, the person shall be liable to surrender the
land held in excess.
(2) The Tribunal shall serve on every person. who is
liable to surrender the land held in excess of the ceiling area
under sub-section (1), a notice specifying therein the extent
of land which such person has to surrerder and requiring
him to file a statement within such period not being less
than fifteen days, as it may fix, indicating therein, full
particulars of the lands which such person proposes to
surrender.
(3) If the person on whom a notice is served under sub-
section (2), files the statement referred to in that sub-section
wthin the period fixed therefor, and the Tribunal is satisfied,
after making such inquiry as it deems fit, that the proposed
surrender of the land is in accordance with the provisions of
this Act, it shall pass an order approving the surrender and
the said land shall thereupon be deemed to have been
surrendered by such person.
(4) If the person on whom a notice is served under sub-
section (2) does not file the statement referred to in that sub-
section within the period fixed therefor or files such
statement within the period fixed but does not specify
therein the entire extent of land which such person has to
surrender the Tribunal may, after giving an opportunity to
the person concerned of being heard, itself select, in the
former case the entire extent, and in the latter case, the
balance of the extent which such person has to surrender,
and pass in order to that effect, and thereupon the said land
or balance of land, as the case may be shall be deemed to
have been surrendered by such person.
Surrender of land
in certain cases.
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 21
(5) (a) Notwithstanding anything in this section, it shall
be open to the Tribunal to refuse to accept the surrender of
any land-
(i) which has been converted into non-agricultural
land and has been rendered incapable of being used for
purposes of agriculture;
(ii) the surrender of which is not acceptable on
account of a dispute as to the title to the land or an
encumbrance on the land or on account of the land being in
the possession of any person mentioned in 11[xxx] item (v)
of clause (i) of section 3 or on account of the land proposed
to be surrendered becoming inaccessible by reason of its,
severance from the remaining part of the holding; and
the Tribunal shall, in every such case, serve a notice on the
person concerned requiring him to surrender any other land
in lieu thereof; and thereupon the provisions of sub-sections
(3) and (4) shall, mutatis mutandis apply to such surrender:
Provided that where land proposed to be
surrendered under this section is burdened with a
mortgage, the Tribunal may, on an application made by the
mortgager with the consent of the mortgagee, by order,
transfer such mortgage from the land so proposed to be
surrendered to the residuary holding of the mortgager or to
any part thereof.
(b) Where the land so surrendered under clause (a) is
also not acceptable to the Tribunal, the Tribunal shall, after
giving an opportuntty to the person concerned of being
heard, select any other land in lieu thereof, and thereupon,
the said land shall be deemed to have been surrendered by
such person.
11. Omitted by Act No.10 of 1977.
22 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
(6) Before passing an order under sub-section (3), sub-
section (4) or sub-section (5), the Tribunal shall publish the
particulars of land proposed to be surrendered or selected,
in such manner as may be prescribed and consider the
objections, if any, received in pursuance of such
publication.
Explanation I.- In the case of a surrender of land of a
family unit,-
(a) where the extent to be surrendered by each
member is agreed upon by or on behalf of all the members
of the family unit, the extent surrendered by each such
member shall be in accordance with such agreement, so
however, that the extent surrendered by any female member
of the family unit shall not exceed the extent which she
would be liable to surrender in proportion to the total land
held by her to the lands held by all the members of the
family unit:
12[Provided that the Tribunal may, on an application
made by any female member, permit the surrender of land
by her in excess of such proportionate extent in case an
extent equivalent to such excess in terms of standard
holding is transferred to her by any male member of the
family unit;]
(b) where there is no such agreement, the extent
surrendered shall be in proportion to the lands held by each
member of the family unit;
(c) where any land is held in the name of any female
member of the family unit, it shall be presumed, unless the
contrary is proved, that such famale member is the owner of
such land.
12. Inserted by Act No.10 of 1977.
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 23
Explanation II.- Where any person surrenders any land
being the whole or part of his share of the land held by. a
co-operative society, company or firm, the share of such
person in such co-operative society, company or firm, as the
case may be, shall, to the extent required for such
surrender, be deemed to have been correspondingly
reduced.
Explanation III.- Where any person required to surrender
any land under this Act is a member of a co-operative
society, company or firm, he may be required to surrender
the land, if any, held by him separately and may then be
required to surrender from his share of the land held by the
Co-operative society, company or firm only to make up the
deficiency.
Explanation IV.- Where it is proposed to accept the
surrender by any person of his share of the lands held by a
joint family, co-operative society, company or firm of which
he is a member, the lands so surrendered shall be selected
in accordance with any agreement that may be arrived at
between such person and the other members of such joint
family, co-operative society, company or firm, and where
there is no such agreement, the share of such person in the
lands so held shall, as far as practicable, be determined
prorata with reference to each class of land held by such
joint family, co-operative society, company or firm.
Explanation V.- In the case of lands covered by proviso
(c) to clause (d) of section 3, the Government may, as soon
as may be, notify the area in which lands are proposed to
be localised as double crop wet lands and any person
whose holding falls within such notified area shall be
required to surrender, in the first instance only such extent
of land as he would be liable to surrender treating it as
single crop wet land, and on the localisation of such land as
double crop wet he shall, be required to surrender the
24 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
balance extent which he is liable to surrender; and the
provisions of section 17 shall continue to apply until the
surrender of such balance extent.
Explanation VI.- Where the holding of any person
comprises any land falling under sub-clause (i) of clause (v)
of section 3, which has, not been supplied with water from
the Government source of irrigation upto the specified date,
and the ceiling area in respect of such holding has been
determined on the basis that such land is a wet land, such
person shall be required to, surrender in the first instance
only such extent of land as he would have been liable to
surrender had such land been treated as dry land, and on
the supply of water to such land, he shall be required to
surrender the balance extent which he is liable to surrender
and the provisions of section 17 shall continue to apply until
the surrender of such balance extent.
11. Where any land is surrendered or is deemed to have
been surrendered under this Act by an owner, the Revenue
Divisonal Officer may, subject to such rules as may be
prescribed, by order take possession or authorise any
officer to take possession of such land which shall
thereupon vest in the Government free from all
encumbrances from the date of such order:
Provided that any claim or liability enforceable against
that land immediately before the date of vesting in the
Government may be enforced only-
(i) against the amount payable under this Act in respect
of such land; and
(ii) against any other property of the owner; to the same
extent to which such claim or liability was enforceable
against that land or other property, as the case may be,
immediately before the date of vesting.
Vesting of land
surrendered.
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 25
Explanation.-Nothing in this section shall affect the
provisions of any law, custom, usage or agreement relating
to right of easements available for any land vesting in the
Government under this section over any other land.
12. (1) Where any land is surrendered or is deemed to have
been surrendered under this Act by any usufructuary
mortgagee or tenant, the possession of such land shall
subject to such rules as may be prescribed revert to the
owner.
(2) The owner to whom the possession of the land
reverts under sub-section (1) from an usufructuary
mortgagee shall be liable to pay the mortgage money due
to the usufructuary mortgagee in respect of that land with
interest at the rate of six per cent per annum from the date
of such reversion, and the said land shall continue to be the
security for such payment.
(3) The owner to whom the possession of the land
reverts under sub-section (1) from a tenant shall be entitled
to receive from the tenant rent due for the period ending
with the last crop harvested by such tenant.
(4) Where any land is surrendered or is deemed to have
been surrendered under this Act 13[xxx] by any person in
possession by virtue of mortgage by conditional sale or
through a part performance of contract for sale or otherwise
the possession of such land shall, subject to such rules as
may be prescribed, revert to the owner.
(5) The owner to whom the possession of the land
reverts under sub-section (4) shall be liable to discharge the
claim enforceable against the land by 13[xxx] person in
13. Omitted by Act No.10 of 1977.
Revision and
vesting of land
surrendered.
26 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
possession; and the land surrendered shall, if held as a
security, continue to be the security.
14[(5-A) Where any land is surrended or is deemed to
have been surrended under this Act by any limited owner,
the possession of such land shall, subject to such rules as
may be prescribed, revert to the person having a vested
interest in the remainder and such person shall be liable to
discharge the claim enforceable against the land by the
limited owner; and the said land shall, if held as a security,
continue to be the security.]
(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section,
where any land surrendered by an usufructuary mortgagee
or a tenant 15[xxx] or a person in possession referred to in
sub-section (4), is also a land surrendered by the owner, the
provisions of section 11 shall apply.
13. (1) Where the holding of any owner includes any land
held by a protected tenant, the Tribunal shall in the first
instance, determine whether such land or part thereof
stands transferred to the protected tenant under section
38-E of the 16[Telangana Tenancy and Agricultural Lands
Act, 1950], and if so, the extent of land so transferred; and
such extent of land shall thereupon be excluded from the
holding of such owner and included in the holding of such
tenant, as if the tenant was the owner of such land for the
purposes of this Act.
(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1), the
relevant provisions of the Act aforesaid shall apply in the
matter of purchase of such land by such protected tenant.
14. Inserted by Act No.10 of 1977.
15. Omitted by Act No.10 of 1977.
16. Substituted by the Telangana Adaptation of Laws (No.2) Order,
2016, issued in G.O.Ms.No.46, Law (F) Department, dated 01.06.2016.
Special provision
for protected
tenants.
Act XXI of 1950.
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 27
14. (1) The lands vested in the Government under this Act
shall be allotted for use as house-sites for agricultural
labourers, village artisans or other poor persons owning no
houses or house-sites, or transferred to the weaker sections
of the people dependent on agriculture for purpose of
agriculture or for purposes ancillary thereto, in such manner
as may be prescribed:
Provided that as far as may be practicable, not less than
one half of the total extent of land so allotted or transferred
shall be allotted or transferred to the members of the
Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes and out of the
balance, not less than two-thirds shall be allotted or
transferred to the members of the backward classes of
citizens notified by the Government for purposes of clause
(4) of article 15 of the Constitution.
17[(2) The land allotted to a person for the use of house-
site or transferred for agriculture or for the purposes
ancillary thereto, shall be assigned free of cost.]
18[(3) [xxx]]
(4) Any transfer of the land under this section shall be
subject to-
(i) the condition that the land shall not be alienated by
the transferee by way of sale, gift mortgage, lease or in any
manner whatsoever otherwise than by way of mortgage in
favour of the Government, a bank or a co-operative society,
including a land mortgage bank; and
17. Substituted by Act No.3 of 2008.
18. Sub-section (3) omitted by Act No.3 of 2008.
Disposal of land
vested in
Government.
28 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
(ii) the condition that where the land transferred is an
orchard, the transferee shall continue to maintain such land
as an orchard; and
(iii) such other conditions as may be prescribed.
(5) Any alienation effected or other act done in respect
of any land in violation of the conditions specified in
sub-section (4) shall be null and void; and the 19[Tahsildar]
shall resume the land after giving an opportuntty to the
persons affected of making a representation in this behalf.
(6) Notwithstanding anything in this section, the
Government may-
(i) lease out any land vesting in them under this Act
for such purposes and on such terms and conditions as
may be specified by them; or
(ii) reserve such land for any common use or benefit
of the community; 20[or
(iii) utilize/sell such lands for infrastructure/industrial
development or any such public purpose.]
15. The amount payable for any land vested in the
Government under this Act, shall be a sum calculated at the
rates specified in the Second Schedule and it shall, paid at
the option of the Government, either in cash or in bonds or
partly in cash and partly in bonds. The bonds shall be
issued on such terms and carry such rate of interest as may
be prescribed.
19. For the words ―Revenue Divisional Officer‖ substituted by Act No.3 of
2008.
20. Added by Act No.25 of 2008 and subsequently substituted by Act
No.19 of 2009.
Amount payable
for lands vested in
Government.
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 29
16. The Tribunal shall, after giving the persons known or
believed to be interested in the land vested payable in the
Government an opportunity of being heard, determine the
amount payable under section 15 and publish a notification
containing particulars of the land so vested and the amount
payable therefor. Any person having an interest in the said
land, may file a claim for the amount due to him from out of
the amount payable, within thirty days from the date of
publication of the notification and the Tribunal shall after
making an inquiry into the validity of the claim, determine
the persons who, in its opinion, are entitled to payment from
out of the said amount and the amount to which each of
them is entitled and subject to such rules as may be
prescribed, make payments in accordance with such
determination.
17. (1) No person whose holding, and no member of a
family unit, the holding of all the members of which in the
aggregate, is in excess of the ceiling area as on the 24th
January, 1971 or at any time thereafter, shall on or after the
notified date, alienate his holding or any part thereof by way
of sale, lease, gift, exchange, settlement, surrender,
usnfructuary mortgage or othewise, or effect a partition
thereof, or create a trust or convert an agricultural land into
non-agricultural land, until he or the family unit, as the case
may be, has furnished a declaration under section 8, and
the extent of land, if any, to be surrendered in respect of his
holding or that of his family unit has been determined by the
Tribunal and an order has been passed by the Revenue
Divisional Officer under this Act taking possession of the
land in excess of the ceiling area and a notification is
published under section 16; and any alienation made or
partition effected or trust created in contravention of this
section shall be null and void and any conversion so made
sball be disregarded.
Claims for the
amount payable.
Prohibition of
alienation of
holding.
30 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
(2) For the purposes of determining whether any
transaction of the nature referred to in sub-section (1) in
relation to a land situated in this State, took place on or after
the notified date, the date on which the document relating to
such transaction was registered shall, notwithstanding
anything in section 47 of the Registration Act, 1908, be
deemed to be the date on which the transaction took place,
whether such document was registered within or outside the
State.
(3) The provisions of sub-section (1) shall apply to any
transaction, of the nature referred to therein in execution of a
decree or order of a civil court or of any award or order of
any other authority.
18. 21[(1)] Where on or after the notified date there takes
place –
(a) any acquisition in any manner whatsoever,
usufructuary mortgage, or lease of any land; or
(b) any marriage or adoption; or
(c) any alteration in the classification of the land;and
after such acquisition, usufructuary mortgage, lease,
marriage, adoption or alteration, the total extent of land held
by any person or by all the members of any family unit in the
aggregate exceeds the ceiling area such person or family
unit shall, within a period of sixty days from the date of such
acquisition, usufructuary mortgage, lease, marriage,
adoption or alteration, furnish a declaration of the holding of
such person or family unit; and all the relevant provisons of
this Act shall apply as if it was a declaration furnished under
section 8.
21. Renumbered as sub-section (1) by Act No.10 of 1977.
Declaration of
future
acquisitions.
Central Act 16 of 1908.
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 31
Explanation I.- For the purpose of this section, the
number of members of a family unit shall be reckoned with
reference to the date of such acquisition, usufructuary
mortgage, lease, marriage, adoption or alteration, as the
case may be.
Explanation II.- For the purpose of the application of the
provisions of sections 9 and 17, the expression ‗notified
date‘ shall be construed as the date of acquisition,
usufructuary mortgage, lease, marriage, adoption or
alteration, as the case may be.
Explanation III.- For the removal of doubts, it is hereby
clarified that no declaration under this section need be
furnished where the total extent of land held by all the
members of a family unit in the aggregate exceeds the
ceiling area solely on account of any reduction in the
number of members of the family unit.
Explanation IV.- Where a land surrendered by a family
unit under this Act is land held by a joint family, it shall be
open to the members of the family unit and other members
of the joint family to partition the land remaining with such
joint family after such surrender and if such family unit
comes to hold land in excess of the ceiling area solely on
account of such partition, such family unit shall not be
required to furnish a fresh declaration under this section and
the relevant provisions of this Act applicable to a family unit
holding land in excess of the ceiling area shall not apply to
such family unit.
22[Explantion V.- For the removal of doubts it is hereby
clarified that when a land held by a limited owner reverts to
the person having a vested interest in the remainder by
virtue of sub-section (5-A) of section 12 or otherwise, there
22. Inserted by Act No.10 of 1977.
32 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
shall be deemed to be an acquisition of such land by such
person for the purposes of this section.]
23[(2) Where any land is acquired or taken on lease by a
person solely for a non-agricultural purpose connected with
or incidental to an industry, the Government may, after
making such enquiry as they may deem fit, by order,
exempt, subject to such conditions, if any, as may be
specified in the order, such land from the provisions of sub-
section (1).
Explanation.— For the purposes of this sub-section, the
expression ―non-agricultural puropose‖ means a purpose
which is not an agricultural purpose or a purpose ancillary
thereto, including horticulture; and the expression ―industry‖
means any business, profession, trade, undertaking or
manufacture.]
19. (1) Notwithstanding anything in the Registration Act,
1908, every person presenting before a registering officer
appointed under the said Act, for registration on or after the
notified date, any document relating to alienation of any
land or creation of a trust in respect of any land shall, at the
time of such presentation, furnish a declaration in duplicate
by the transfer or making the alienation, or creating the trust,
to the effect that the holding of the transferor does not
exceed the ceiling area, and in a case where such transferor
is a member of a family unit, that the holdings of all the
members of such family unit in the aggregate do not exceed
the ceiling area.
(2) The declaration mentioned in sub-section (1) shall
be in such form and contain such particulars as may be
prescribed.
23. Inserted by Act No.10 of 1977.
Declaration to be
furnished before
registering officer.
Central Act 16 of 1908.
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 33
(3) On or after the notified date, no registering officer
shall accept for registration any document relating to the
alienation, or the creation of any trust, of any land, if the
document is not accompanied by the declaration mentioned
in sub-section (1).
(4) The registering officer shall, as soon as may be after
the date of registration of the document, forward one copy
of the declaration referred to in this section to the Revenue
Divisional Officer within whose jurisdiction the holding which
is the subject matter of the document or a major part
thereof, is situate and on receipt of such copy, the Revenue
Divisional Officer may obtain such information as may be
necessary for verifying as to the correctness of the
statements contained in the declaration.
(5) Every village officer and every officer of the Revenue,
Registration and Survey and Settlement Departments of the
Government, shall report to the Revenue Divisional Officer
any information which they may receive of transactions in
respect of any land made in contravention of any of the
provisions of this Act and on receipt of such information the
Revenue Divisional Officer may verify the correctness of the
same.
(6) Where it appears to the Tribunal or the Revenue
Divisional Officer, as the case may be, as a result of
verification under sub-section (4) or sub-section (5) or in any
other manner that a transaction has taken place in
contravention of the provisions of this Act it or he shall, after
giving an opportunity of making representation to the parties
likely to be affected and holding such enquiry as it or he
may consider necessary, by order, determine whether or not
the transaction is in contravention of the provisions of this
Act; and where any transaction is so determined to be in
contravention of the said provisions, it shall be null and void.
34 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
20. (1) The Government may, by notification, constitute as
many Appellate Tribunals as may be necessary for the
purposes of this Act, and shall specify in such notification,
the jurisdiction of each such Appellate Tribunal.
(2) Each Appellate Tribunal constituted under sub-
section (1) shall consist of not more than three members, of
whom one shall be a person who holds or has held a civil
post under the State, not below the rank of a District
Revenue Officer, or a person who holds or has held or is
qualified to hold the post of a District Judge, and such
person shall be the Chairman of the Tribunal.
(3) An appeal shall lie against an order passed by the
Tribunal or the Revenue Divisional Officer to the Appellate
Tribunal within thirty days of the date of communication of
the order, and the Appellate Tribunal shall pass such orders
on the appeal as it deems fit and such order shall, subject to
revision under section 21, be final.
(4) The provisions of sub-sections (3), (4) and (5) of
section 6 shall apply in relation to an Appellate Tribunal as
they apply in relation to the Tribunal with the substitution of
references to the Appellate Tribunal for references to the
Tribunal.
(5) Where the Government are aggrieved by an order
passed by the Tribunal or the Revenue Divisional Officer,
they may file an appeal to the Appellate Tribunal against that
order.
21. An application for revision from any party aggrieved,
including the Government, shall lie to the High Court, within
the prescribed period, from any order passed on appeal by
the Appellate Tribunal on any of the following grounds,
namely:-
Appeal.
Revision.
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 35
(a) that it exercised a jurisdiction not vested in it by law,
or
(b) that it failed to exercise a jurisdiction so vested, or
(c) that it acted in the exercise of its jurisdiction illegally
or with material irregularity.
22. (1) The Appellate Tribunal, the Tribunal, the Revenue
Divisional Officer and any Officer authorised by the Tribunal
or the Revenue Divisional Officer to exercise any power
under this Act shall have the same powers as are vested in a
civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, for
summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person
and examining him on oath and for requiring production of
any document.
(2) The Appellate Tribunal, the Tribunal, the Revenue
Divisional Officer or any officer authorized by the Tribunal or
the Revenue Divisional Officer in this behalf may, at any
time, enter upon any land but not a dwelling house, with
such officers or other persons as it or he considers
necessary and make a survey and take measurements
thereof or do any other act which it or he considers to be
necessary for carrying out any of the provisions of this Act.
(3) The Revenue Divisional Officer or any officer
authorised by him to take possession of any land vesting in
the Government under this Act may, while taking such
possession, remove any obstruction that may be caused or
offered thereto and may for that purpose use such force as
may be necessary.
23. Nothing in this Act shall apply to the following lands,
namely:-
(a) lands held by the State or the Central Government or
any local authority;
Power of
authorities under
this Act.
Central Act 5 of 1908.
Exemptions.
36 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
(b) lands held by religious, charitable or educational
institutions, including a wakf, of a public nature 24[existing
on the date of the commencement of this Act;]
(c) lands held by an undertaking owned, controlled or
managed by-
(i) a Government company as defined in 25section
617 of the Companies Act, 1956;
(ii) a Corporation established by or under a Central;
Provincial or State Act, which is controlled or managed by a
State Government or the Central Government;
(d) lands covered by tea, coffee, cocoa, cardamom or
rubber plantations;
(e) lands held by-
(i) such co-operative farming societies of weaker
sections as may be approved by the Government in this
behalf which approval the Government may for good and
sufficient reason withdraw at any time;
(ii) other co-operative societies including land
mortgage banks;
(f) lands held by a bank;
(g) lands vested in the Telangana Bhoodan Yagna
Board or in a Gram Sabha;
(h) lands in any area notified by the Government in this
behalf as required for acquisition in connection with any
24. Added by Act No.9 of 1974.
25. Now refer to the relevant provisions of the Companies Act, 2013
(Central Act No.18 of 2013).
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 37
major irrigation, power, industrial or other project under
construction as on the date of commencement of this Act:
Provided that where any of the lands specified in clause
(a), (b), (c), (e), (f), or (g) are held by any person other than
the authority, institution, body corporate or society specified
in such clause, whether as a tenant or usufructuary
mortgagee or otherwise, the provisions of this Act, shall
apply to such person in respect of such land:
Provided further that the exemptions under item (ii) of
clause (e) and clause (f) shall be available only in respect of
the lands acquired by such co-operative societies or banks
in pursuance of the recovery of their dues:
Provided also that the exemption under item (i) of
clause (c) shall be available only in respect of such part of
the land as may be relatable to the share held by a State or
the Central Government in such Government company, and
for this purpose, the share of the land so relatable shall be
deemed to be the extent of the land which would have been
allotted to the said Government on a winding up of the
company.
24. (1) If any person, who is liable to furnish a declaration
under this Act wilfully and without reasonable cause or
excuse, fails to furnish the declaration within the period
prescribed or specified therefor by or under this Act or
furnishes any declaration which he knows or has reason to
believe to be false, incorrect or incomplete, he shall be
punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to
two years or with fine which may extend to two thousand
rupees or with both.
(2) If any person wilfully and without reasonable cause
or excuse, contravenes any other provisions of this Act or of
any rules made or orders issued thereunder, he shall be
Penalty.
38 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to
two years or with fine which may extend to two thousand
rupees or with both.
(3) If any Village Officer, or any officer of the Revenue,
Registration or Survey and Settlement Departments of the
Government wilfully and without reasonable cause or
excuse fails to report to the Revenue Divisional Officer any
information which he may receive of any transaction in
respect of any land made in contravention of any of the
provisions of this Act, he shall be punished with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or
with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees or with
both.
(4) No court shall take cognizance of an offence
punishable under this Act except with the previous sanction
of the District Collector, which sanction shall be accorded
subject to such rules as may be prescribed.
25. (1) No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall
lie against any person, officer or authority for anything which
is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of
this Act or any rules made thereunder.
(2) No suit or other legal proceedings shall lie against
the Government for any damage caused or likely to be
caused or for any injury suffered or likely to be suffered, by
virtue of any provision of this Act or for any thing which is in
good faith done intended to be done in pursuance of this
Act or any rules made thereunder.
26. Save as otherwise provided in this Act, no order.passed
or proceeding taken by an officer or authority under this Act
shall be called in question in any court, in any suit or
application and no injunction shall be granted by any court
in respect of any action taken or to be taken by such officer
Protection of
action taken
under this Act.
Bar of jurisdiction.
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 39
or authority in pursuance of any power conferred by or
under this Act.
27. (1) The Government may, by notification, make rules to
carry out all or any of the purposes of this Act.
(2) Every rule made under this Act, shall immediately
after it is made, be laid before each House of the State
Legislature if it is in session and if it is not in session in the
session immediately following for a total period of fourteen
days which may be comprised in one session or in two
successive sessions, and if, before the expiration of the
session in which it is so laid or the session immediately
following, both Houses agree in making any modification in
the rule or in the annulment of the rule, the rule shall, from
the date on which the modification or annulment is notified,
have effect only in, such modified form or shall stand
annulled, 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.
28. The provisions of this Act shall have effect
notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith in any other
law for the time being in force or any custom, usage or
agreement or decree or order of a court, tribunal or
authority.
29. If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of
this Act, the Government may, by general or special order,
published in the Telangana Gazette, make such provisions
not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as appear to
them to be necessary or expedient for the removal of the
difficulty:
Provided that no such order shall be made after the
expiration of two years from the commencement of this Act.
Power to make
rules.
Act to override
other laws.
Power to remove
difficulties.
40 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
30. (1) The Andhra Pradesh Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings
Act, 1961, is hereby repealed and all preceedings pending
thereunder shall abate:
Provided that where any land surrendered has been
taken over on payment of compensation under that Act the
proceedings shall be continued in respect of such land
under that Act, as if this Act had not been passed.
(2) The Andhra Pradesh Agricultural Lands (Prohibition
of Alienation) Act, 1972 is hereby repealed.
Repeals.
Act X of 1961.
Act 13 of 1972.
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 41
FIRST SCHEDULE
(See section 5).
CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS.
1. Wet lands bearing the tarams or bhagannas in each of the settlement tracts or groups, as the case may be shall be classified
into respective Classes A, B, C, D, E and F as shown in the table below:
TABLE
Region
Settlement tract or group
Tarams or Bhagannas which fall under Class
DISTRICT A. B. C. D. E. F.
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)
ANDHRA AREA
1. Srikakulam and
Visakhapatnam
Ichapuram
Srikakulam
Visakhapatnam
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
1
..
1
2 to 4
1 to 4
2 to 4
5 and 6
5 to 11
5 to 8
7 and 8
Do Gudem .. .. 1 to 4 5 and 6 7 and 8 ..
2. East Godavari and
west Godavari
Delta
Delta-dry (wet on ground)
1
1 and 2
2 and 3
3 and 4
4 and 5
5 to 8
6 to 8
9
9 to 11
10 to 14
..
..
Upland .. .. 1 to 5 6 to 10 11 to 14 15
Kolleru .. .. .. .. 5 to 8 9 and 10
Kolleru - dry (wet on
ground)
.. .. .. .. 7 to 10 ..
Yeleru - turn - Government
villages.
.. 1 to 4 .. .. .. ..
42 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
Wet Lands - (Contd.)
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)
Yeleru - taken - over
villages - turn
1 2 .. .. .. ..
Yeleru - taken over villages
- non-turn
.. 2 to 4 5 to 9 10 11 to 13 14 to 16
Yeleru -taken over-turn-dry
(wet on ground)
.. 1 to 8 9 .. .. ..
Yeleru-taken over-non-turn
dry (wet on ground).
.. 1 to 2 .. 3 to 9 10 to 13 ..
3. Krishna Delta 1 and 2 3 and 4 5 to 7 8 9 to 11
Delta - dry (wet on ground) .. 1 to 4 5 6 and 7 8 to 13 ..
Upland .. 1 and 2 3 to7 8 .. ..
Divi (irrigated dry) .. 1 to 4 5 to 7 8 to 11 .. ..
Muniyeru .. 1 to 6 7 .. .. ..
Muniyeru - dry (wet on
ground)
.. .. 6 to 10 11 and 12 .. ..
4. Guntur and
Prakasam districts.
Delta
1 2 to 5 6 and 7 8 and 9 10 to12 ..
Delta - dry (wet on ground) .. 3 to 6 7 to 9 10 to 13 .. ..
Upland .. .. 1,1A and 2 3to 7 8 to 10 ..
Sattenapalli and Palnad .. .. .. 1 to 6 7 to 10 ..
Vinukonda .. 1 2 and 3 4 to 7 8 to 10 ..
Ongole
.. .. 1 to 3 4 to 12 13 to 17
18 to 22
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 43
Wet Lands - (Contd.)
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)
5. Nellore and
Prakasam districts.
Tract I: (entire former
district of Nellore except
the villages in the Tracts II
and III).
.. 1 2 and 3 4 to 7 8 to 15 16 to 23
Delta - dry (wet on ground) .. .. 5 to 8 9 to 15 20 to 26 ..
Tract II: Uggumadi,
Damanellore Suggupalli
and 2 Shrotrium villages.
.. .. .. .. 4 and 5 6 to 9
Tract III: Manganellore,
Atchukattu, Suddamadugu
and Tagelu.
.. .. .. 5 to 8 9 and 10 ..
6. Kurnool and
Prakasam districts
Tract I : Kurnool, Dhone,
Nandikotkur, Nandyal,
Allagadda and Atmakur
sub-taluk.
.. 1 and 2 3 4 5 and 6 7 to 10
Tract II: Cumbum and
Markapur taluks.
.. 1 2 and 3 4 5 and 6 7 to 10
Tract III: Alur and Adoni
taluks.
.. 1 to 4 4A and 5 6 and 6A 7A, 8, 8A 9 to 19
Tract IV: Koilkuntla and
Banaganapalli.
.. .. 2 and 3 4 5 and 6 7 to 10
Tract V: Pattikonda taluk .. .. 3 4 5 and 6 7 to 10
44 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
Wet Lands - (Contd.)
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)
7. Ananthapur Tract I: Anantapur (part),
Dharmavaram, Hindupur,
Madakasira, Penukonda
and Kalyandurg (part)
taluks.
.. 1 2 3 4 and 5 6 to 10
Tract II: Kadiri taluk .. .. 1 and 2 3 4 and 5 6 to 10
Tract III: Gooty, Tadpatri
and Uravakonda taluks.
.. 1 to 3A 4A and 5A 6A 7A and 8A 8 to 13
Tract IV: Rayadurg and
Kalyanadurg (Part).
.. .. 4A and 5A 6A 7A and 8A 9 to 13
Tract V: Anantapur (part),
16 villages transferred from
Gooty taluk.
.. .. .. 1 to 6 7 9 to13
8. Cuddapah Tract I: Cuddapah,
Jammalamadugu,
Proddatur, Kamalapuram
taluks.
.. 1 and 2 3 4 5 and 6 7 to 10
Tract II: Pulivendla and
Rayachoti (part)
.. 2 3 4 5 and 6 7 to 10
Tract III: Badvel, Sidhout
and Rajampet taluks.
.. 2 3 4 5 and 6 7 to 9
Tract IV: Rayachoti (part) .. 1 2 3 4 and 5 6 to 10
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 45
Wet Lands - (Contd.)
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)
9. Chittoor Tract Chandragiri, Chittoor,
Puttur,Kalahasti, Satyavedu
(part) and Bangarupalem
taluks.
.. 1 and 2 3 and 4 5 to 8 9 to 13 14 to 18
Tract IIA: Punganur and
Palamaner (part)
.. .. 1 to 3 4 to 6 8 to13 14 to 18
Tract IIB: Palamaner (part)
and Kuppam.
.. .. .. 1 to 4 5 to 9 10 to 14
Tract III: Madanapalli and
Vayalpad.
.. 1 2 3 4 and 5 6 to10
Tract IV: Satyavedu (part) .. .. .. 1 to 3 4 and 5 6 to 11
Tract V: West Warthur and
Chilakurvillages transferred
from Nellore to Kalahasti
taluk.
.. .. .. 6 9 and 14 16 and 19
46 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
Wet Lands - (Contd.)
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)
10. TELANGANA
AREA
Group 1: (Rs.24.00)
..
16 annas
and above
151/2 annas
15 annas
141/2 annas
14 annas
131/2
annas to
10 annas
91/2 and
below
Group 2: (Rs.22.28)
Group 3: (Rs.21.43)
Group 4: (Rs.20.57)
Group 5: (Rs.19.71)
Group 6: (Rs.19.28)
Group 7: (Rs.18.85)
Group 8: (Rs.18.00)
Group 9: (Rs.17.14)
Group 10: (Rs.16.28)
..
..
16 annas
and
above
151/2 annas
15 annas
141/2
annas to
11 annas
101/2
annas and
below
Group 11: (Rs.15.43)
Group 12: (Rs.15.00)
Group 13: (Rs.14.57)
Group 14: (Rs.13.71)
Group 15: (Rs.13.49)
Group 16: (Rs.12.85)
Group 17: (Rs.12.72)
..
..
..
15 annas
and above
141/2
annas to
11 annas
101/2
annas and
below
Group 18: (Rs.12.00)
Group 19: (Rs.11.71) .. ..
.. 15 annas
and above
141/2
annas to
12 annas
111/2
annas and
below
Group 20: (Rs.11.14)
Group 21: (Rs.10.58)
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 47
Group 22: (Rs.10.28)
..
..
..
16 annas
and above
151/2
annas to
12 annas
111/2
annas and
below
Group 23: (Rs. 9.42)
Group 24: (Rs. 8.57)
Group 25: (Rs. 7.71)
..
..
.. ..
13 annas
and above
121/2
annas and
below
Group 26: (Rs. 6.85)
Group 27: (Rs. 4.81)
48 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
FIRST SCHEDULE–(Contd)
1. Dry lands bearing the settlement tarams or bhagannas in each of the settlement tracts or groups, as the case may be, shall
be classified into respective Classes G, H, I, J and K as shown in the table below:-
TABLE
Region
Settlement tract or group
Tarams or Bhagannas which fall under Class
DISTRICT G. H. I. J. K.
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
ANDHRA AREA
1. Srikakulam and
Visakhapatnam
Ichapuram
Srikakulam
Visakhapatnam
..
1 to 4
1 to 4
1 and 2
5 to 8
5 to 7
3 to7
..
8 and 9
8
..
10 and 11
..
..
..
Gudem 1 to 6 7 to 9 10 to 11 .. ..
2. East Godavari and
West Godavari
Delta
Upland
1 to 10
1 to 7
11 to 14
8 to 14
..
..
..
..
..
..
3. Krishna Delta
Upland
1 to 7
1 to 7
8 to13
8 and 9
..
..
..
..
..
..
4. Guntur and
Prakasam districts.
Delta 1 to11 .. .. .. ..
Upland 1 to12 .. .. .. ..
Sattenapalli and Palnad 1 to10 11 12 .. ..
Vinukonda .. 1 to 3 4 to 6 7 8
Ongole 1 to 16 17 and 18 19 to 28 .. ..
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 49
Dry lands-(Contd)
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
5. Nellore and
Prakasam districts.
Entire former district of Nellore
except the villages in Tracts II
and III).
1 to 13 14 to 16 17 to 21 22 to 26 27 and 28
Tract II: Uggumadi,
Damanellore Suggupalli and 2
Shrotrium villages.
4M, 5M 4, 6M 5,6,7M,8M 7 8 and 9
Tract III: Manganellore,
Athukattu, Suddamadugu and
Tagelu villages transferred
from Chittoor districts.
2 3 4 .. ..
6. Kurnool and
Prakasam districts
Tract I : Kurnool, Dhone,
Nandikotkur, Nandyal,
Allagadda and Atmakur taluks.
1 and 2 3 4 and 5 6 and 7 8 to 13
Tract II: Cumbum and
Markapur taluks.
1 and 2 3 4 and 5 6 and 7 8 to 10
Tract III: Alur and Adoni taluks. 1 and 2 3 4 and 5 6 7 and 8
Tract IV: Koilkuntla and
Banaganapalli taluks.
1 to 5 6 7 and 8 9 and 10 11
Tract V: Banaganapalli erst-
while estate villages.
1 to 3 4 5 6 and 7 8 to 11
Tract VI: Pattikonda. 1 to 4 5 6 and 7 8 and 9 10
50 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
Dry lands-(Contd)
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
7. Ananthapur Tract I: Anantapur, Dharma-
varam, Hindupur, Madakasira,
Penukonda, Kalyandurg (part)
taluks.
1 2 3 4 and 5 6 to 9
Tract II: Kadiri taluk .. 1 and 2 3 and 4 5 and 6 7 and 8
Tract III: Gooty, Tadpatri
Uravakonda taluks.
1, 2, 3A 3 and 4A 4, 5, 6A. 6 7 to 13
Tract IV: Rayadurg (Part)
taluk.
1 and 2 .. 3 and 4 5 6 to 8
8. Cuddapah Tract I: Cuddapah, Jammala-
madugu, Proddatur, and
Kamala puram taluks.
1 to 5 6 7 to 9 10 11
Tract II: Pulivendla and
Rayachoti (part)
1 to 4 5 and 6 7 to 10 .. 11
Tract III: Badvel, Sidhout and
Rajampet taluks.
1 to 5 6 7 to 9 10 and 11 12
Tract IV: Rayachoti (part) .. 1 and 2 3 to 51/4 6 7 and 8
9. Chittoor Tract I Chandragiri, Chittoor,
Puttur, Kalahasti, Satyavedu
(part) and Bangarupalem.
1 and 2 3 4 and 5 6 7
Tract IIA: Punganur and
Palamaner (part)
1 and 2 3 4 and 5 6 7
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 51
Tract IIB: Palamaneru (part)
and Kuppam.
1 and 2 3 4 and 5 6 7
Tract III: Madanapalli and
Vayalpad.
.. 1 and 2 3 to 5 6 7 and 8
Tract IV: Satyavedu (part) 3, 3M, 4, 4M,
5M
6M 5, 6, 7M, 8M,
9M
7 8 and 9
Tract V: Warthur and Chilakur
villages transferred from
Nellore to Kalahasti taluk.
9 and 13 .. 17 and 22 26 ..
52 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
Dry lands-(Contd)
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
10. TELANGANA
AREA
Group 1: (Rs.3.78)
14 annas and
above
131/2 annas
to 11 annas
101/2 annas to
7 annas
61/2 annas to
2 annas
11/2 annas
and below.
Group 2: (Rs.3.53)
Group 3: (Rs.3.43)
Group 4: (Rs.3.21)
Group 5: (Rs.3.15)
Group 6: (Rs.3.09)
Group 7: (Rs.3.00)
Group 8: (Rs.2.94)
.. 11 annas
101/2 annas
and above
61/2 annas
to 3 annas
21/2 annas
and below.
Group 9: (Rs.2.88)
Group 10: (Rs.2.94)
Group 11: (Rs.2.67)
..
14 annas
and above
131/2 annas
to 9 annas
81/2 annas to
3 annas
21/2 annas
and below.
Group 12: (Rs.2.64)
Group 13: (Rs.2.57)
Group 14: (Rs.2.46)
Group 15: (Rs.2.35)
Group 16: (Rs.2.24)
Group 17: (Rs.2.14)
Group 18: (Rs.2.09)
Group 19: (Rs.2.02)
..
15 annas
and above
141/2 to 9
annas
81/2 annas to
3 annas
21/2 annas
and below.
Group 20: (Rs.1.92)
Group 21: (Rs.1.81)
Group 22: (Rs.1.71)
Group 23: (Rs.1.60)
Group 24: (Rs.1.53)
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 53
Group 25: (Rs.1.49)
..
..
12 annas
and above
111/2 annas
to 3 annas
21/2 annas
and below.
Group 26: (Rs.1.38)
Group 27: (Rs.1.28)
Group 28: (Rs 1.16
Group 29: (Rs.1.06)
Group 30: (Rs.0.95)
Group 31: (Rs.0.85)
Group 32: (Rs.0.65)
54 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
Explanation I.- Taram and bhaganna shall be as
registered in the revenue and settlement records of the
Government as on the notified date.
Explanation II.- If in respect of any land for which no
taram or bhaganna is recorded in the revenue and
settlement records of the Government, or if any land bears a
taram or bhaganna not shown in the Tables under clause 1
or 2 of this Schedule, then such land shall be deemed to
bear the taram or bhaganna which a similar land in the
vicinity for which a taram or bhaganna has been specified in
the said Tables bears.
Explanation III.- In the case of a land registered as dry or
wet in the land revenue accounts of the Government and
bearing a particular taram or bhaganna, but which is
deemed to be wet or dry land respectively under the
provisions of this Act, it shall be deemed to bear the same
taram or bhaganna which a similar wet or dry land as the
case may be, in the vicinity bears.
Explanation IV.- In this Act, ‘Telangana area’ means the
territories specified in sub-scction (1) of scction 3 of the
States Reorganisation Act, 1956, and ‘Andhra area’ means
the territoties of the State of Andhra Pradesh other than the
Telangana area.
SECOND SCHEDULE.
[See section 15]
1. The amount payable for any land vested in the
Government under this Act shall be calculated in the manner
hereinafter laid down.
2. The total land revenue payable on all the lands
surrendered by the person and vested in the Government
shall first be calculated. On the total land revenue so
[Act No. 1 of 1973] 55
calculated the amount payable shall be computed as
follows ;-
(i) when the total land revenue payable does not
exceed Rs. 50, one hundred times the land revenue;
(ii) when the total land revenue payable exceeds
Rs. 50, but does not exceed Rs 150, fifty times the Iand
revenue subject to a minimum of Rs. 5,000;
(iii) when the total land revenue payable exceeds
Rs.150 but does not exceed Rs. 500, twenty times the land
revenue subject to minimum of Rs. 7,500;
(iv) when the total land revenue payable exceeds
Rs. 500, ten times the land revenue subject to a minimum of
Rs. 10,000 and a maximum of Rs. 1 lakh.
3. Where the land contains any fruit-bearing trees or
permanent structures, the amount payable therefor shall be
calculated in such manner as may be prescribed.
Explanation.- In this Act, ‘land revenue’ means the land
revenue as defined in clause (f) of section 2 of the
Telangana Land Revenue (Enhancement) Act, 1967 or as
determined under that Act together with additional land
revenue as levied under that Act as on the notified date:
Provided that in the case of land registered as dry in the
land revenue accounts but deemed to be wet land under
this Act or vice versa the land revenue in respect of the Iand
so deemed shall be the same as for similar wet or dry land
in the vicinity as the case may be;
Provided further that in the case of any land in respect
of which no land revenue is payable, the land revenue in
A.P. Act No.8 of 1967.
56 [Act No. 1 of 1973]
respect of such land shall be the same as the land revenue
payable for similar land in the vicinity.
4. (1) The Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Area) Estates
(Abolition and and Conversion into Ryotwari) Amendment
Ordinance, 1972 is hereby repealed.
(2) Notwithstanding such repeal anything done or any
action taken under the principal Act, as amended by the
said Ordinance, shall be deemed to have been done or
taken under the corresponding provisions of the principal
Act, as amended by this Act.
* * *
Repeal and
Saving.
Andhra Pradesh
Ordinance 5 of 1972.
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About this act
- Jurisdiction
- Telangana
- Enactment date
- 1973-01-01
- Sections available
- Document reader
India Code, Government of India. Text fetched 17 Oct 2026. Check the linked official text and subsequent notifications when applying a provision.