THE MIZO DISTRICT (LAND AND REVENUE) ACT, 1956

(Passed by the Mizo Council on 4th October, 1956)

(Act No 1 of 1957)

An
Act

to provide for the recognition of rights on land assessment of revenue on such

land by the District Council.

Preamble - Whereas it is expedient to provide it)r the recognition of right on land and
settlement and the assessment or revenue such land and for other ancillary matter in the
Mizo Autonomous District.

CHAPTER I

1. Short title, extend and commencement:-

1) This Act may be called Mizo District (Land and Revenue) Act, 1956
2) It extends to the whole of the Union Territory of Mizoram excepting the
areas under the Autonomous District Councils of Pawi, Lakher and
Chakma.
3) It shall come into force at once

2. Definition – In this Act unless there is anything repugnant or the context

otherwise requires:-
1) “District” means a District Council in Mizoram declared to be as such by
order of the Administrator of Mizoram
2) (Omitted)
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3) “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Union Territory of

Mizoram appointed by the President of India under Article 239 of the
constitution
4) "Land" includes all lands either vacant or occupied. It shall include also
benefits to arise out of land and things attached to the earth or permanently
fastened to c1nything attached to the earth but shall exclude minerals,
mineral oil, natural gas and petroleum;
5) "Land Revenue" means any revenue assessed on an estate and includes
other taxes assessed in lieu of land revenue.
6) "Prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Regulation
7) "'Reserved Forest" means a reserved forest as defined to sub-paragraph (2)
of sub-paragraph (3) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution.
8) "Settlement-holder" means any person other than a pass holder who has
entered into an agreement with the Administrator to pay land revenue and
is deemed to have acquired status of settlement-holder under section 7.
9) "Deputy Commissioner" means the Deputy Commissioner, of a District in
Mizoram appointed by the Administrator as such.
10) "Financial Year" means the Financial Year commencing on the first day of
April;
11) "Pass-holder" means a person who has the temporary right of use and
occupancy over a specified plot of land for a specified period under such
terms as the Administrator may prescribe in the pass he holds.

CHAPTER II

3. Application: This Chapter shall apply to all lands within the Station areas of
Aizavl, Lunglei, Demagiri, North Vanlaiphai, Champhai, Kolasib and Sairang and
any other Station areas as may be notified by the Administrator from time to time
except -
(a) land included in the State Reserved Forests.
(b) the soil of all Government and Public roads.
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4. No person shall acquire by length of possession or otherwise any right over land
disposed of, allotted or occupied before the commencement of this Act unless
such land had been recorded and registered either ill the Deputy Commissioner's
Office or the District council's Office.

5. Rights of Pass-holder - A pass-holder shall have no right in the soil beyond right
of user for the period for which it is given and shall have no right of transfer, or of
inheritance beyond the period of the pass or of subletting.

6. Power to forfeit unclaimed land:

"A pass-holder may at any time during the period of the pass relinquish
the whole or part of his estate after paying all the revenue and taxes due from him
in respect of the estate proposed to be relinquished, by a written petition to the
Administrator within such date as may be prescribed, and on such relinquishment
being accepted by the Administrator, the pass holder shall cease to have an rights
and interests whatsoever conferred on him by the pass on the relinquished land."

7. Settlement-holder's right over land

"The settlement-holder shall have heritable and transferable right use on or of
subletting in his land subject to :-
a) the payment land revenue and taxes from time to time legally accessed or
imposed in respect of the land :-
b) such terms and conditions as ,Ire expressed in his settlement lease, and the
rules made there under."
8. Power of the Administrator over vacant land: In the case of any land over
which no person has right of use or occupancy under this Act or which is not
under use or occupancy of the Government, the Administrator may direct that :-
a) such land may be disposed of by way of grant, lease or other use in the
manner prescribed:
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b) the person who has entered into unauthorized occupation of such land
may be rejected in the manner prescribed
c) any crop, building or other construction erected without authority may be
disposed of in a manner it deems fit.

9. Right of fishery - The Administrator may, be proclamation in a in a manner it

seems fit, declare deems fit, declare any collection of water running or stagnant to
be a fishery and no right, in any fishery, so declared, shall be deemed to have
acquired by the public or any person. Such a fishery may be leased in accordance
with the rules prescribed.

CHAPTER III
Recording

10. Recording and Demarcation of land: The Administrator or any officers

appointed in its behalf shall survey all lands to be recorded. The demarcation
boundary and. the assessed revenue to be paid annually shall be recorded in the
General Register vide Appendix "A". The Administrator may prescribe subject to
a paragraph 8 (1) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India and to this
Regulation principles on which the land revenue is to be assessed, the terms or
which and the conditions on which settlement may be made. The settlement-
holder shall make proper boundary marks as may be directed by such officer or
the Administrator.
Recording shall be made in such manner and after inquiry as may be
prescribed.
11. Certificate of possession and assessment - A settlement holder shall on
completion of survey and demarcation of boundary, obtain a certificate of
recording for the details of that payment of such amount of recording fee as may
be prescribed. Different rates of fees may be prescribed for any local area or class
of land.
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12. Local ownership over land – Possession of such certificates showing details of
boundary area and assessed revenue to be paid annually shall be deemed to be the
conclusive proof that the land has been settled with the holder of the certificate
and that all rights and interests arising out of such settlement have vested in such
holder of in such holder of the certificate.

13. If a settlement-holder violates any term of the lease, the lease shall be liable to be
cancelled.

14. Transfer of ownership of Land: No transfer of any right, title or interest in any
land shall be recognized by the Administrator or the Village Council and no
person shall be deemed to be ex-operated from any liability due to the
Administrator in the manner prescribed.

CHAPTER IV
General

15. Rate of revenue for town in the district - The following rates of land revenue is
fixed for the towns of the district as specified below:-
1) Aizawl and Lunglei Town areas - At Rs. 6 to Rs. 1 8 per bigha per annum
provided that an area less than half a bigha shall be assessed to half a
bigha and an area exceeding half a bigha but not exceeding one bigha shall
he assessed to one bigha, and but not exceeding one bigha but not
exceeding one and half bigha shall be assessed to one and half bigha and
an area exceeding 1/2 bigha but not exceeding 2, bighas shall be assessed
to two bighas and so on.
2) Other Town areas :- At the rate of Rs. 4 to Rs, 12 per bigha per annum.
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3) Exemption from payment of house. tax :- The Administrator shall, from

time to time, classify the land within the town areas into three grades and
fix the rates of revenue in accordance with clauses 1 and 2 above,
4) Payment of the land revenue as prescribed above shall exempt a person
from payment of house tax as prescribed in the Lushai Hills District
(Revenue Assessment) Regulation, 1953, if the house is situated within the
land for which he pays the land revenue.

CHAPTER V
Liability for Revenue land Default

16: Liability for land revenue : Land Revenue payable in respect of any estate shall
be due jointly and severally from all persons who have been in possession of the
estate or any part of it during any portion of the financial year in respect of which
that revenue is payable.

17. Revenue when due and how to be paid: Every sum payable under this Act on
account of land revenue, shall fall due on such date, and shall be payable in such
manner, in such installments, at such place and to such person, as may be
prescribed.
Provided that the Administrator may sanction remission of revenue to any
deserving person or persons due consideration being given to the nature and
circumstances of each case.

18. Arrear and defaulter: Land revenue not paid on the date when it falls due shall
be deemed to be an arrear, and every person liable for it shall be deemed to be
defaulter.

19. Penalty: When an arrear has accrued and additional charge any way or penalty
not exceeding the amount due from the defaulter shall be levied.
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Provided that a notice of demand for payment of an arrear shall be issued

within the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner.

20. Attachment and sale of moveable: For the recovery of an arrear, the "Secretary
of Department or any other officer authorised in writing by the Administrator"
may, in accordance with the law for the time being in force for the administration
of Justice in the District, order attachment and sale of so much of a defaulter's
moveable property as well, as nearly as may be defrayed the arrear:
Provided that nothing in this section shall authorize the attachment and
sale of necessary wearing apparel implements of husbandry, tools of artisans,
materia1 or houses and other buildings belonging to and occupied by the defaulter
or such cattle or seeds, and other necessary instruments and materials that may be
necessary to enable the defaulter to earn his livelihood as an agriculturist

21. Attachment of land:

(1) When an arrear has accrued in respect of any land, settle permanently or
temporarily with heritable or transferable interests the Secretary to the
Department or any other Officer authorised in writing by the
Administrator may order attachment of such land.
(2) Any attachment or sale of estate or properties shall be final unless a claim
or suit is lodged with a competent court of law constituted under Lushai
Hills Autonomous District (Administration of Justice) Rules.

Explanation: A Village Council not be competent to enter claim or suit or

adjudicate.
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CHAPTER VI

22. Appeals :-
1) Appeals in all revenue cases under this Act shall be heard and disposed by
the Administrator of Mizoram

Provided that nothing done on connection with the recognition on right

and interest over land shall prelude any person from bringing a suit in the
competent civil court for possession or, or declaration of his right to any
immoveable property to which he may deem himself entitled .
2) The appeals to the Administrator shall be preferred in such manner and
within such time as may be prescribed,
23. The Administrator of Mizoram may, from time to time, may, rules for
carrying out the purposes of this Act.
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APPENDIX ‘A’

Form of general register Section (10)

Serial Owner’s Residence Description Area in Rate Amount Reamrks

No Name of Bigha per of
with boundary Bigha revenue
father’s with
name location