THE UTTAR PRADESH BHOODAN YAGYA ACT, 1952

530 

 

 UTTAR PRADESH BHOODAN YAGNA  ACT, 19521 

 
[U. P. Act No. 10 of 1953] 

 
Amended by  

U. P. Act No. 10 of 1975 

U. P. Act No. 08 of 1977 

U. P. Act No. 23 of 1979 

[Passed in Hindi by the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly on 

December 24, 1952 and by the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council on 

January 5, 1953. 

Received the assent of the President on February 27, 1953, 

under Article 201 of the Constitution of India and was published in the 

Uttar Pradesh Gazette Extraordinary, dated March 5, 1953.] 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

AN 

ACT 

to facilitate donation and settlement of lands in connection with 

the Bhoodan Yagna initiated by Sri Acharaya Vinoba Bhave.    

WHEREAS it is expedient to facilitate the donation of lands in 

connection with the Bhoodan Yagna initiated by Sri Vinoba Bhave and 

to provide for the setting of such lands on the landless persons :—            

It is hereby enacted as follows :—  

Short title, 
extent and 

commencement 

1. (1) This Act may be called the U. P. Bhoodan Yagna Act, 

1952. 

(2) It extends to the whole of the Uttar Pradesh. 

(3) It shall come into force at once.3 

Definitions  2. In this Act unless there is anything repugnant in the subject 

or context— 

(a) “Bhoodan Yagna” means the movement initiated by  

Sri Acharaya Vinoba Bhave for acquisition of land through 

voluntary gifts with a view to distribute it to landless persons; 

 (b) “holding” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it 

in the U. P. Tenancy Act, 1939;  

(c)  “owner” means, as respects any land— 

(i) in areas where the rights of intermediaries have 

vested in the State Government under section 4 of the U. P 

Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950, its 

[bhumidhar or Government Lessee]2 as the case may be ; 

(ii) in areas where the U. P. Tenancy Act, 1939, is in 

force for the time being, its landlord and also includes a 

rent-free grantee, a grantee at a favourable rate of rent, a 

grove-holder and a tenant mentioned in clauses (a) to (f) of 

section 21 of the said Act ;   

—————————————————————————————————————————— 
1.  For  S. O. R. see Gazette Extraordinary dated November,  21, 1952. 
2.  Sub. by s. 71 of  U. P. Act No. 8 of 1977. 
3. Omitted for transferred territories under s. 3 of U.P. Act No. 52 of 1976. 



[Uttar Pradesh Bhoodan Yagna Act, 1952] 

532 

 

  (iii) in other areas, its proprietors and also includes 

a tenant having a heritable and transferable interest in 

land ; 

(d)  “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under 

this Act ; 

(e) “State Government” means the Government of Uttar 

Pradesh; 

(f)  words and expressions not defined in this Act shall 

have the meaning assigned to them—  

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

(i) in areas referred to in sub-clause (i) of clause (c) in 

the U. P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950 ; 

(ii) in areas referred to in sub-clause (ii) of the said 

clause in the U. P. Tenancy Act, 1939 ; 

(iii) in other areas, in the law relating to land tenure 

applicable to the land. 

Establishment 
and 

incorporation of 
the Bhoodan 
Yagna 
Committee   

3. There shall be established a Bhoodan Yagna Committee for 

Uttar Pradesh (hereinafter called the Committee) having perpetual 

succession which shall be a body corporate vested with the capacity of 

suing and being sued in its corporate names acquiring, holding, 

administering and transferring property, both movable and immovable 

and of entering into contracts.   

Constitution of 
Committee 

4. (1) The Committee shall consist of the following members, 

namely 

(a) the Chairman to be nominated by the [State 

Government]1.  

(b) four or more but not exceeding nine members to be 

nominated by the [State Government]1 ; 

(2) [ * * * * ]2  

(3) The nomination [* * *] 3  of the Chairman and of the 

members shall be notified in the Gazette in the manner prescribed. 

(4) The Chairman and members of the Committee shall hold 

office for four years from the date of the notification under sub-

section (3), and shall be eligible for re-appointment or re-nomination.  

Dissolution of 
the Committee  

5.  (1) If at any time the State Government is satisfied that— 

(a)  the Committee has failed without reasonable cause or 

excuse to discharge duties or to perform functions imposed or 

assigned by or under this Act, 

(b)  circumstances have so arisen that the Committee is 

rendered unable or may be rendered unable to discharge 

duties or to perform functions imposed or assigned by or 

under this Act, or  
 

—————————————————————————————————————————— 
1.  Subs. by sect.  2  (a)  of  U. P. Act  No. 23  of  1979. 

2.  Del. by sect.  2  (b)  ibid.  
3.  Del. by sect.  2  (c)  ibid. 



[Uttar Pradesh Bhoodan Yagna Act, 1952] 

534 

 (c) it is otherwise expedient or necessary to dissolve the 

Committee, it may by notification in the official Gazette— 

(i) dissolve the Committee for the period to be 

specified ; 

(ii) direct the reconstitution of the Committee in 

accordance with the provisions of section 4 of this Act ; 

and  

(iii) declare that the duties, powers and functions of 

the Committee under this Act shall for the period for 

which it has been dissolved be discharged, exercised and 

performed by such person or authority and subject to 

such restrictions as may be specified therein.   
 (2) The State Government may make such incidental and 

consequential provisions as may appear to be necessary for this 

purpose.  

Casual 
vacancies and 
other matters 

about the 
Committee 

6. The method of filling up casual vacancies in the Committee, 

procedure of its working and the conduct of its business shall be 

such as may be prescribed.   

Duties of the 
Committee 

7.   (1) It shall be the duty of the Committee to administer all 

lands vested in it for the benefit of the Bhoodan Yagna. 

(2) The Committee shall for the purposes of Bhoodan Yagna 

perform such other functions and possess such other powers as may 

be necessary in respect of such land.   

Donation of land 
to Bhoodan 

Yagna 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 

8.  (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the 

time being in force, any person, being the owner of land, may donate 

and grant such land to the “Bhoodan Yagna” by a declaration in 

writing in that behalf (hereinafter called the Bhoodan declaration) in 

the manner prescribed.  

(2) The Bhoodan declaration shall be filed with the Tahsildar 

as soon as it is made.    

Publication of 
and 

investigation 
upon the 
declaration 

9. Upon receipt of the Bhoodan declaration the Tahsildar 

shall— 

(a) publish the same for objections, and 

[(aa) give notice of the same to the concerned Gaon Sabha.]1 

(b) make a summary inquiry as to the right title, and interest 

of the donor in such land. 

Donor 
competent to 
donate land 
 

 
 
 

10.  Notwithstanding anything contained in the U. P.  

Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950, U. P. Tenancy Act, 

1939, or any other law relating to land tenure as may be applicable, 

an owner shall be competent for purposes of this Act to donate the 

land held by him as such to the Bhoodan Yagna. 

Filing, hearing 
and disposal of 
objections 

11.  (1) any person whose interest are affected by the Bhoodan 

declaration made under section 8 may, within  thirty days of the 

publication of the declaration, file objections on the same before the 

Tahsildar. 

—————————————————————————————————————————— 
1.  Ins. by sec. 2 of   U. P.  Act  No. 10, 1975. 



[Uttar Pradesh Bhoodan Yagna Act, 1952] 

536 

 

 (2) The Tahsildar shall register every such objection and shall 

fix a date of hearing, of which notice shall be given to the declarant, 

the objector and [the concerned Gaon Sabha].1 

(3) on the date of the hearing or any other date to which it may 

be postponed, the Tahsildar shall proceed to investigate and dispose of 

the objection and shall subject to the provisions of section 12— 

    (a) either confirm the Bhoodan declaration, or  

    (b) supersede the same.  

(4) If the Tahsildar confirms the Bhoodan declaration then 

notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in 

force, all the rights title and interest of the owner in such land shall 

stand transferred to and vest in the Bhoodan Committee for purposes 

of the Bhoodan Yagna: 

Provided that no Land revenue shall be payable in respect of 

the land for a period of three years commencing from the first day of 

July next following the date of confirmation where such land was 

partikadeem or banjar on the date of donation. 

 (5) Where the Bhoodan declaration is superseded by the 

Tahsildar under sub-section (3) the donation shall stand cancelled and 

the owner shall be deemed to continue to have all his right, interests 

and title in such donation was made. 

[(6) "Any person aggrieved by an order of the Tahsildar under 

this section may, within thirty days from the date of the order, prefer 

an appeal against it to the collector and the decision of the collector on 

such appeal shall be final.  

(7) The power to confirm or supersede a Bhoodan declaration 

under this section shall include the power to confirm or supersede the 

same wholly or in part.”]2 

Lands which 
cannot be 
donated 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
Lands donated 
prior to the 
commencement 

of this Act 

12.  Notwithstanding anything contained in any law an owner 

shall not, for purposes of this Act, be entitled to donate the land falling 

in any of the following classes namely. 

(a) lands which on the date of donation are recorded or by 

usage treated as common pasture land, cremation or burial grounds, 

tank, path-way or threshing floor; and 

(b) land in which the interest of the owner is limited to the life-

time ; 

(c) such other land as the State Government may by notification 

in the Gazette specify. 

13. (1) Where any land has been donated to the Bhoodan Yagna 

prior to the commencement of this Act, the Collector shall prepare a 

list of all such lands other than lands to which the provisions of 

section 12 apply showing therein—    

 (a)  the area and other particulars of the land; 

(b) the name and address of the donor; 

—————————————————————————————————————————— 
1.  Sub. by sec. 3  (i) of  U. P. Act No. 10  of  1975. 
2.  Ins.  by sec. 3  (ii)  ibid. 



[Uttar Pradesh Bhoodan Yagna Act, 1952] 

538 

 (c) date of donation; 

(d) the nature of interest of the donor in the land; 

(e) if the land has already been granted to any person in 

pursuance of the Bhoodan Yagna, the name and address of the 

person to whom the land has been granted  (herein after called 

the grantee) ; 

(f) the date of the grant under sub-clause (e) ; and  

(g) such other particulars as may be prescribed. 

 (2) The list so prepare shall be published in the manner 

prescribed. 

(3) Upon the publication of the list under sub-section (2) and 

notwithstanding anything in any law to the contrary—  

(a) the right, title and interest of the donor in such land shall 

with effect from the date of donation be deemed to stand 

transferred to and vest in the Bhoodan Yagna Committee as if a 

Bhoodan Yagna declaration had been duly made and confirmed 

in respect thereto under and in accordance with section 8 and 

sub-section (3) of section 11 ; 

(b) where such land has in pursuance of Bhoodan Yagna 

been granted to any person it shall with effect from the date of 

grant be deemed further to have been granted to the grantee 

under and in accordance with the provisions of section 14. 
Grant of land 
to landless 
persons 

14.  1[(1)]  The committee or such other authority or person as 

the Committee with the approval of the State Government, specify either 

generally or in respect of any area, may, in the manner prescribed, grant 

lands which have vested in it to the [landless agricultural labourers]2, 

and the grantee of the land shall— 

(i) where the land is situate in any state which has vested 

in the State Government under and in accordance with section 4 

of the U. P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950, 

acquire in such land he rights and the liabilities of a [bhumidhar 

with non-transferable rights]3  and 

(ii) where it is situate in any other area, acquire therein 

such rights and liabilities and subject to such conditions, 

restrictions and limitations as may be prescribed and they shall 

have effect, any law to the contrary notwithstanding.  
 [(2) where the committee or other authority or person as 

aforesaid fails to grant any land in accordance with sub-section (1) 

within a period of three years from the date of vesting of such land in 

the committee or from the date of commencement of the Uttar Pradesh 

Bhoodan Yagna (Amendment) Act, 1975, whichever is later, the Collector 

may himself grant such land to the landless agricultural labourers in 

the manner prescribed, and thereupon the grantee shall acquire the 
rights and liabilities mentioned in sub-section (1) as if the grant were 

made by the committee itself.   

(3)  [ * * * ]4 

(4) In making grant of land under this section, the committee or 

other authority or person as aforesaid or the Collector, as the Case may 

be, shall observe the following principles :— 

—————————————————————————————————————————— 
1.  Re-numbered  by  sec.  4  of  U. P. Act  No.  10  of  1975.  
2.  Subs.  by  Sec. 4  (b)  ibid.    
3.  Subs.  by  Sec. 72  (a)  of  U. P. Act No.  8  of  1977.  
4. Omitted by Sec 72 (b) of U.P. Act No. 8 of 1977. 



[Uttar Pradesh Bhoodan Yagna Act, 1952] 

540 

 (a) At least fifty per cent of the land available for grant 

shall be granted to persons belonging to the scheduled Caste, 

scheduled Tribes and persons belonging to the Kol, Pathari, 

Khairwar, Baiga, Dharikar, Panika and Gond Tribes and such 

other tribes as the State Government on the recommendation 

of the Committee may notify in this behalf ; 

(b) The land situate in one village shall, as far as possible, 

be granted to persons residing in that every village. 

Explanation— For the purposes of this section, the 

expression “landless agricultural labourer” means a person whose 

main source of livelihood is agricultural labour or cultivation and who 

at the relevant time either holds no land or holds land not exceeding 

0.40468564 hectares (one acre) in Uttar Pradesh as a Bhumidhar,  

(***)1 asami or Government lessee”]2 

Grants to be 
made in 

accordance 
with Bhoodan 
Yagna Scheme. 
 

 

Cancellation of 
certain grant 

15.  All grants shall be made as far as may be in accordance 

with the scheme of Bhoodan Yagna. 

 

 

15-A.  (1) The Collector may of his own motion and shall on 

the report of the committee or on the application of any person 

aggrieved by the grant of any land made under section 14, whether 

before or after the commencement of the Uttar Pradesh Bhoodan 

Yagna (Amendment) Act, 1975, inquire into such grant, and if he is 

satisfied that the grant was irregular or was obtained by the grantee 

by misrepresentation  or fraud, he may — 

(i) cancel the grant, and on such cancellation, notwithstanding 

anything contained in section 14 or in any other law for the time being 

in force, the rights, title and interest of the grantee or any person 

claiming through him in such land shall cease, and the land shall 

revert to the committee ; and  

(ii) direct delivery of possession of such land to the committee 

after ejectment of every person holding or retaining possession thereof, 

and may for that purpose use or cause to be used such force as may 

be necessary. 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Exemption 
from stamp 
duty and 

registration. 

(2) Notice of every proceeding under sub-section (1) shall be 

given to the committee, and any representation made by the 

committee in relation thereto shall be taken into consideration by the 

Collector.  

(3) No order shall be passed under sub-section (1) except after 

giving an opportunity of being heard to the grantee or any person 

known to the Collector to be claiming under him. 

(4) The order of the Collector passed under sub-section (1) 

shall be final and conclusive.”]3 

16.  The Bhoodan declaration made or deemed to be made 

under section 8 or a grant of land made or deemed to be made under 

section 14 shall be and shall always deemed to have been exempt from 

payment of stamp duty and from registration or attestation under law 

relating to registration and execution of Documents, any law to the 

contrary notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any 

other law for the time being inforce. 

—————————————————————————————————————————— 
1. Omitted  by Sec.  72  of U.P. Act No. 8 of 1977. 
2. Ins.  by  Sec.  4  (b)  of  U. P. Act  No. 10  of  1975. 

3. Ins.  by  Sec.  5  of  U. P. Act  No.  10  of  1975. 



[Uttar Pradesh Bhoodan Yagna Act, 1952] 

542 

Power to 

make rules.  
17.  (1) The state Government may make rules for the purpose of 

carrying into effect the provisions of this Act. 

(2)  Without prejudice to the generality of foregoing powers, such 

rules may provide for— 

(a) the matters relating to the establishment, constitution of 

the committee [and nomination of chairman and the members 

thereto]1  

(b) the form of Bhoodan declaration and the manner in 

which it shall be filed ; 

(c) the documents to be filed with the Bhoodan declaration; 

(d) the manner of publication of the Bhoodan declaration; 

(e) the nature, scope and manner of the enquiry under 

section 9 ; 

 (f) the manner of filing the objections and their registration ; 

(g) the fixation of date for hearing the objections; 

(h) manner and mode of service of notices under this Act; 

(i) procedure to be followed in hearing and disposal of 

objection under section 11 ; 

(j) the procedure relating to the confirmation or supersession 

of declaration ; 

(k) the matters relating to the grant of land in pursuance of 

section 14 ; and  

(l)  the matters which are to be and may be prescribed.  

 

—————————————————————————————————————————— 
1. Subs.  by  Sec.  3  of  U. P. Act  No.  23  of  1979.