Revenue Department - Inam Abolitions

An Inam is a gift of land or land revenue. The origin of the Inam can be traced back to the times

of Hindu, Mohammadan periods of rule. Parcels of lands were granted by the Hindu and

Mohammadan Rulers to persons for services rendered by such persons or the services to be

rendered by such persons in future.

Inams are of different kinds as detailed hereunder.

Service Inams :- A service inam is an inam granted to a person or persons burdening them with

certain condition of service viz., Washerman Inam, Potters Inam, Carpenter's Inam etc.,

Enfranchised Inam :- An enfranchised inam is one where the holder of which is relived from the

conditions of service subject to payment of quitrent on the lands. He will have all the privileges

of a ryotwari holder. Quitrent payable on such enfranchised inam lands is usually 1/4th or

1/8th or sum such fraction of the full assessment payable on the land.

Major Inams :- A major inam consists of a whole village or a major portion of the village

granted as an inam and confirmed as such by the Inam Commissioner.

Minor Inams :- A minor inam consists of a small extent of land of about five or ten acres of land

granted as a inam and confirmed or recongnised by the Inam Commissioner.

Darmila Inams :- A Darmila Inam is an inam of Post-settlement origin i.e., the land granted by

the land holder of an estate subsequent to the permanent settlement in 1802. Darmila Inams

are of two categorics viz.,

1) those which are in personal service of the land holders and

2) those which are intended for service to the village community

Village Artizan Inams :- Village Artizan Inam are inams granted by the State for the services to

be rend ered to the village community by the barbers, Carpenters, Black Smiths, Washermen,

Potters, Purohits and other Artizans.

The Dasabandham Inams: - A Dasabandham Inam is a grant of land or revenue as a

compensation for the construction of a tank, channel or well. If it is an assignment of revenue it

is called Shamiltat Dasabandham.

Whole Inams :- A Whole Inam village is a village granted as an inam and includes Agraharams

held entirely free of land tax or on an favourable quitrent and such inams will be dealt with

same principals as prescribed for minor inams.

The Inams (A&C into R) Act, 1956

The Act provides to abolish the inam tenure of lands and convert them into ryotwari lands. It

applies to pre-settlement inam lands, both major and minor inams where a grant in inam has

been made, confirmed or recognised by Government, not being an Estate. It also applies to post

settlement minor inams coming under the purview of Sec.17(1) (b) of the E.A. Act. 48.

Preliminary Enquiry:

The preliminary enquiry u/s 3 empowers the M.R.O either suomotu or on application to

determine

(1) whether a particular land is an inam land

(ii) whether such inam land is in a ryotwari, zamindari or inam village and

(iii) whether such inam land is held by an institution.

In granting ryotwari pattas, the provisions of Sec. 4 shall be followed (ie) in the case of an inam

land in a ryotwari or zamindari village, the person or institution holding such land as inamdar

shall be entitled to a ryotwari patta. In the case of an inam land in an inam village, if the land is

held by an institution, it shall be entitled to a ryotwari patta.

If such land is held by an Inamdar on the date of commencement of the Act, he shall be

entitled to a ryotwari patta for 1/3rd share of land and the tenant declared to be in occupation

of the land on 7-1-48 shall be entitled to a ryotwari patta for the 2/3rd share of the land. If

there is no such declared tenant the inamdar shall be entitled to a ryotwari patta for the entire

land. If such land is held by an inamdar other than an institution on the date of commencement

of the Act, but is in the occupation of a tenant on the said date, the tenant who is declared to

be in the occupation of that land on 7-1-48 shall be entitled to a ryotwari patta for 2/3rd share

of that land and the inamdar shall be entitled to a ryotwari patta for the remaining 1/3rd share

thereof, and if there is no such declared tenant, the tenant in the occupation of the land on the

date of commencement of this Act, shall be entitled to ryotwari patta for 2/3rds of that land

and the inamdar shall be entitled to a ryotwari patta for the remaining 1/3rd share thereof.

In the case of inam land held by an institution in an inam village, the tenant who is

declared to be in occupation of an inam land as on 7-1-1948 under Sec.5 or if there is no such

tenant the tenant in occupation of the land on the date of commencement of this Act, shall have

a right of permanent occupancy in the land and the said right shall be heritable and also shall

be transferable by sale, gift or otherwise subject to the condition that he shall not be a

defaulter for more than sixty days when the rent becomes payable and he shall not use the land

otherwise to make it unfit for agricultural purpose impairing its value materially (Sec.8). Who

ever infringes the above conditions is liable for eviction according to the procedure prescribed

in Sec.9.
 Through an Amendment Act which came into effect on 26-6-75, all communal lands

and porambokes in inam land stand transferred to and vest in Government free of all

encumbrances (Sec.2-A)

As per G.O.Ms.No.77, Revenue, Dt.22-1-68, the power to discharge the functions under

the Act was delegated to the D.R.O's in Andhra areas.

In the telangana areas MRO conducts preliminary enquiry and sends the same to the

RDO for approval. The RDO is the sanctioning authority. Inamdar has to pay an amount as

prescribed in the concerned Treasury and submit the receipt of the same to the RDO. The RDO

will issue a patta certificate directly to the Inamdar and a copy will be sent to the MRO. All the

related records are maintained in the RDO Office. Based on the copy of the patta certificate, the

change of type ownership is incorporated in the Amendment Register. As the Inam lands are

treated as normal patta lands, they are saleable.

Appeal and Revision:

Against the orders of the M.R.O./ or Special Dy.Tahsildar (Inams) an appeal shall lie to

the R.D.O within sixty days of such order. (Sec7(2)) An appeal against the decision u/s 3 (1) on

the above three aspects shall lie to the R.D.O within sixty days. After becoming final, such

decision in Form-II shall be published in the District Gazette. The enquiry for granting ryotwari

pattas is then taken up u/s 7 after giving a notice in Form-V to all persons or institutions

interested.

The Commissioner of Appeals, office of the Chief Commissioner of Land administration

has powers of revision of any proceedings of the M.R.O. or the R.D.O either suo moto or on

application without any limit of time (Sec.7 and 14-A).

APPLICATION OF THE I.A.ACT TO INAM LANDS IN RYOTWARI OR ZAMINDARI VILLAGES :

An Inamdar other than an institution, of any unenfrachaised Inam has sold or otherwise

transferred his interest in the Inam land held by him, the transferee, who has acquired the said

interest who is in possession of such land on the date of commencement, shall be deemed to

be the Inamdar for the purpose of the Act.

(Section 10-A and 10-B of I.A. Act).