Section 17 in The Bengal Land-Revenue Settlement Regulation, 1822
17. Power to take cognizance of claims to property in lands held lakhiraj, or at a Mukarrari Jama and valid tenures, and to settle with proprietors on behalf of lakhirajdar or mukarraridar.
- It shall be competent to Collectors5 and officers engaged in making or revising settlement of any parganas, mauza or other local division, on the application of persons claiming a right of property in lands held free of assessment, or at a mukarrari jama, under unquestioned grants from the ruling powers, or from the amils or other [officers of the [Government] [Substituted by ALO for the words 'officers of Government'.], and situate within or adjoining to such pargana, mauza or other local division to receive, try and determine the claim, and it satisfied that the applicants do possess or are entitled to possess any hereditary and transferable property in the land or the produce or rent thereof, the [Collector] [For the exercise of the functions of Collectors by other officers, see Section 35.] or other officer, with the [sanction of the [State] [Substituted by AO for the words 'sanction of Government'.] Government] previously obtained, shall be authorized to conclude a settlement with them on behalf of the lakhirajdar or mukarraridar for such period as the [State] [Substituted by Para. 4 (1) of the ALO for the word 'Provincial'.] Government may direct, and shall grant to each of the said proprietors pattas defining the conditions on which they are to hold their lands subordinate to the lakhirajdar or mukarraridar.It shall further be competent to the [Collector] [For the exercise of the functions of Collectors by other officers, see Section 35.] under the orders of the [Board] [For the present constitution and powers of the Board of Revenue, see B. and O. Act 1 of 1913.] [* * *] [The words 'of Commissioners,' Repealed by Act 16 of 1874.] to fix and declare the amount of malikana or other proprietary allowance to be paid by such lakhirajdars or mukarraridars to the said proprietors, in the event of their being divested of the occupancy and management of their lands:Provided, however, that either party who may be dissatisfied with the decision of the [Collector] [For the exercise of the functions of Collectors by other officers, see Section 35.] as to the question of the right of property shall be at liberty to contest the same in a regular suit in the Adalat; but the Court shall not interfere to alter the terms on which this settlement may have been made by [Collector] [For the exercise of the functions of Collectors by other officers, see Section 35.] with proprietors, or the amount of malikana granted to such persons.
