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Revenue Administration at the District Level
3.1 Land Revenue Functions
The Collector's revenue functions are governed primarily by the Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956:
Key revenue functions:
- Land Revenue Collection: Collection of land taxes from agricultural land; issuing demand notices to defaulters.
- Land Records Maintenance: Supervision of Khasra (field register), Khatauni (cultivation register), Jamabandi (record of rights), and the Girdawari (seasonal crop survey conducted by Patwaris).
- Mutation (Naamantaran): Updating land records when land changes hands — by sale, inheritance, gift, or court decree. Tehsildar processes; Collector supervises and hears second appeals.
- Land Acquisition: Collector is the designated authority for acquiring land for public purposes under the LARR Act 2013.
- Conversion of land use: Approving conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural (commercial/residential) use.
- Alienation restrictions: Preventing illegal sale/transfer of tribal land under the Rajasthan Tenancy Act, 1955.
3.2 Revenue Administration Hierarchy in the District
| Level | Officer | Functions |
|---|---|---|
| District | Collector | Overall supervision, major revenue appeals |
| Sub-Division | SDO/SDM | Revenue functions in the sub-division; first appeal forum |
| Tehsil | Tehsildar (RAS) | Revenue collection, mutation, land records supervision, Gram Panchayat coordination |
| Circle | Naib-Tehsildar | Sub-tehsil revenue officer; assists Tehsildar |
| Halka/Village | Patwari | Primary revenue field worker; maintains Khasra, conducts Girdawari |
The Patwari is the cornerstone of rural revenue administration:
- Maintains all revenue records for the allocated villages (a Patwari's area is called a Halka — typically 5–15 villages)
- Conducts biannual Girdawari (crop inspection) — recording crops sown, natural calamities, land use changes
- Prepares mutation orders after verifying documents
- Acts as the link between villagers and the administration for land-related matters
3.3 Rajasthan-Specific Revenue Legislation
| Act | Year | Key Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Rajasthan Land Revenue Act | 1956 | Primary land administration law — land records, mutation, revenue courts |
| Rajasthan Tenancy Act | 1955 | Tenants' rights, subletting restrictions, tribal land protection |
| Rajasthan Colonisation Act | 1954 | Settlement of government land, especially in Indira Gandhi Canal area |
| Rajasthan Stamp Act | 1998 | Stamp duty on land transactions |
| Rajasthan Urban Land Tax Act | 1964 | Urban land taxation |