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Land Revenue Assessment and Recovery
7.1 Assessment of Land Revenue — Sections 48–85
Land classification under the Act:
- Class I (Abi): Irrigated land — highest revenue
- Class II (Chahi): Well-irrigated land
- Class III (Barani): Rainfall-dependent — lower revenue
- Class IV (Banjar): Fallow or degraded land — lowest revenue or exempt
Revenue fixation is done through Settlement operations conducted every 30–40 years. The Settlement Officer:
- Surveys and maps all agricultural land
- Classifies land by soil type and irrigation
- Assesses revenue based on productivity × standard rate
Current status: Most Rajasthan small farmers (below 5 bigha) pay zero land revenue due to legislative exemptions. Large landholders pay minimal amounts as revenue has not been revised since 1970s in many areas.
7.2 Recovery of Arrears — Sections 153–200
Land revenue arrears are recovered as public dues under Revenue Recovery Act procedures:
- Certificate of demand issued by Tehsildar
- Attachment of moveable property
- Attachment of immovable property
- Sale of attached property by public auction
- Arrest and detention of defaulter (last resort)
These extraordinary powers reflect land revenue's historical primacy in state finance.