Section 9 in Tamil Nadu Minor Inams (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Rules, 1965
9. Enquiry into claims for ryotwari patta under section 8 or 9.
(1)Every application for grant of ryotwari patta in respect of any land under section 8 or 9 shall be in Form No. 4 and shall be either presented in person or sent by registered post, to the Assistant Settlement Officer, within six months from the appointed day.(2)Every such application shall be signed and verified by the applicant and restricted to lands in a single village.(3)If, in respect of any land, no person has applied under sub-rule (1), the Assistant Settlement Officer shall proceed to enquire into the nature and history of the land suo motu and determine, if any, person is prima facie entitled to a ryotwari patta in respect of that land.(4)The Assistant Settlement Officer shall fix a date for the enquiry and shall cause a notice in Form No. 5 to be served on the person, who has applied for ryotwari patta or who, in the opinion of the Assistant Settlement Officer, is prima facie entitled to a ryotwari patta, to produce any record or make any representation, which he may wish to make at the enquiry. A copy of the notice shall also be sent to the Tahsildar.(5)The Assistant Settlement Officer shall also publish a notice in Form No. 6 requiring any person, who has any objection to any of the proposals to grant ryotwari patta, to file before by him a settlement of his objections, within a week from the date of the notice and also requesting all interested persons to be present at the enquiry either in person or through an authorised representative and make their representations. A copy of the notice shall be affixed on the notice board of the office of the Assistant Settlement Officer.(6)The date of the enquiry shall not be earlier than fifteen days from the date of publication of the notice referred to in sub-rule (5).(7)The enquiry shall be summary. The Assistant Settlement Officer shall hear the parties and afford them a reasonable opportunity for adducing any oral or documentary evidence.(8)Before giving a decision in respect of claims falling under sub-clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 8, the Assistant Settlement Officer shall give a notice in Form No. 7 calling upon the claimant to state, in writing, whether he is willing to pay twenty times the difference between the fair rent in respect of the land-determined in accordance with the provisions in the Schedule to the Act and the land revenue due on it:Provided that no such notice shall be necessary where the claim for ryotwari patta is not established.(9)If the claimant referred to in sub-rule (8) fails to give his consent as required in the notice, the claim shall be rejected. If he gives his consent and thereupon the Assistant Settlement Officer is satisfied that the claimant is entitled to a ryotwari patta, the Assistant Settlement Officer shall issue an order declaring him entitled to ryotwari patta on payment of the consideration due to the Government, and shall also make a reference to the Tahsildar to fix the fair rent and to determine the quantum of consideration.(10)The decision of the Assistant Settlement Officer shall be published in Form No. 8. A copy of the decision shall be given to the party concerned in person or sent to him by registered post. A copy of the decision shall also be sent to the Tahsildar.
