West Bengal Land Holding Revenue Act, 1979
No: 54 Dated: Apr, 16 1980
THE WEST BENGAL LAND HOLDING REVENUE ACT, 1979
West Bengal Act XLIV of 1979
An Act to provide for levy of revenue on land holdings in the State of West Bengal.
WHEREAS it is expedient to rationalise and improve the system of revenue on land holdings in the interest of proper implementation of comprehensive measures for land reform in the State with a view to providing incentives for increased production and ensuring proper distribution of material reasources for social and economic welfare;
It is hereby enacted in the Thirtieth Year of the Republic of India, by the Legislature of West Bengal, as follows:-
1. Short title, extent and commencement:- (1) This Act may be called the West Bengal Land Holding Revenue Act, 1979.
(2) It extends to the whole of West Bengal except the areas described in Schedule Ito the Calcutta Municipal Act, 1951.
(3) It shall come into force on such date and in such district as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint and different dates may be appointed for different districts.
2. Definitions:- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) "agricultural year" means the 'Bengali Year' commencing on the first day of Baisakh and ending with the last day of Chaitra of the same year;
(b) "appointed day", in relation to a district, means the date on which this Act comes into force in that district;
(c) "area" means a tract comprising a district or any part thereof or any special class of lands within the district which may not be contiguous as may be determined by the prescribed authority;
(d) "assessing authority" means the authority appointed under section 9;
(e) "Board" means the State Rating Board constituted under section 3;
(f) "family" in relation to a raiyat shall have the same meaning as defined in clause (c) of section 14K of the West Bengal Land Reforms Act, 1955;
(g) "land holding" means total land of every description held by a raiyat;
Explanation.— In this clause, the expression "raiyat" shall include the members of his family;
(h) "notification" means a notification published in the Official Gazette;
(i) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(j) "prescribed authority" means an authority appointed by the State Government by notification for the purposes of this Act;
(k) "raiyat" means a person or an institution holding land for any purpose including non-agricultural land;
(l) "rateable value of an area" means the rateable value as determined in accordance with the provisions of this Act;
(m) "region" means an area or a number of areas notified by the State Government as a region for the purposes of this Act;
(n) "Regional Board" means a Regional Rating Board constituted under section 4;
(o) "revenue" means whatever is lawfully payable by a raiyat under the provisions of this Act in respect of his land holdings;
(p) "revenue of land holding" means the amount of revenue determined on the basis of the rateable value of the area in which the land holding is situated;
(q) "Schedule" means the Schedule appended to this Act.
3. State Rating Board:- (1) The State Government shall, by notification, constitute a Board to be called the State Rating Board consisting of a Chairman and other members not exceeding four.
(2) The qualifications and the terms and conditions of service of the Chairman and other members of the Board shall be such as may be prescribed.
4. Regional Rating Board:- (1) The State Government shall, by notification, constitute a Regional Rating Board for a region. Each Regional Board shall consist of a Chairman and other members not exceeding four.
(2) The qualifications and the terms and conditions of service of the Chairman and other members of a Regional Board shall be such as may be prescribed.