Grama-Natham Land Can Be Private Property: HC

IN a judgment that could have wider ramifications, the Madras High Court on Wednesday ruled that grama natham land becomes private property of an occupant if it is occupied for a reasonably long time and such occupation was recognised by the state by way of successive transfers of the particular land.

- R SIVAKUMAR @ Chennai

Importantly, the court said that tahsildars need not reject the application for issuance of patta only on the grounds that the land is classified as grama natham or by citing the ceiling limits (of 3 cents) in Revenue Standing Order since those limits relate only to "unoccupied" grama natham land and "not occupied" land.

The judge directed the revenue authorities to consider the applications of the petitioner and issue them patta after ascertaining they have been in occupation for a fairly long time.