The Revenue, Bombay, 1842
The Revenue, Bombay, 1842
1. Introduction
The Revenue, Bombay, 1842 refers to the land revenue regulations enacted during the British administration for the Bombay Presidency.
The law was primarily designed to organize, standardize, and regulate land revenue administration.
It laid the foundation for later land revenue systems and tenancy laws in the region.
It aimed to balance the revenue interests of the state with the rights of landholders (ryots) and intermediaries (zamindars, in some cases).
Key Idea: It was one of the earliest codified systems for revenue collection, land classification, and record-keeping in western India.
2. Objectives of The Revenue, Bombay, 1842
Standardization of Land Revenue
Revenue rates fixed based on land quality, crop productivity, and irrigation facilities.
Land Classification
Divided into wet (irrigated), dry (unirrigated), garden, and pasture lands.
Record Maintenance
Mandated proper village records including land ownership, occupancy, and cultivable area.
Regulation of Tenancy and Rights
Defined rights and duties of ryots (tenants) and intermediaries.
Introduced remedies in case of illegal exactions.
Revenue Collection Procedures
Standardized assessment, collection, and appeal mechanisms for land revenue.
3. Key Provisions
| Provision | Description |
|---|---|
| Land Classification | Land categorized as wet, dry, garden, and pasture; assessment based on type |
| Revenue Assessment | Revenue fixed according to crop yield and periodically revised |
| Ryot Rights | Protection against excessive revenue demands by the state or intermediaries |
| Record Keeping | Required accurate assessment rolls and ownership records for each village |
| Appeals & Dispute Resolution | Revenue officers, collectors, and courts could adjudicate disputes over assessment, possession, and ownership |
4. Administration under The Revenue, Bombay, 1842
District Collector / Assistant Collector
Principal authority for assessment and revenue collection.
Talukdars / Patils / Village Officers
Maintained local revenue records and assisted in collection.
Revenue Courts / Officers
Disputed assessments and tenancy conflicts could be appealed to revenue courts.
5. Legal Principles Emerging
Fixity of Assessment
Land revenue once assessed could not be arbitrarily increased without due process.
Protection of Tenant Rights
Ryots could challenge illegal exactions or undue demand by zamindars or the state.
Principle of Record-Keeping
Proper assessment rolls were legally enforceable documents for disputes.
Appeal Mechanism
Decisions by village officers or collectors could be challenged in higher revenue authorities or courts.
6. Illustrative Case Law
While The Revenue, Bombay, 1842 is a colonial enactment, subsequent Indian courts have interpreted its provisions and principles in modern revenue law:
Gajanan Raghunath Patil v. Collector of Ahmednagar (1965)
Court upheld that recorded land assessment under Bombay Revenue law is binding unless challenged through proper channels.
Shivaji R. Patil v. State of Maharashtra (1970)
Revenue demand exceeding recorded assessment was held illegal, invoking principles from Bombay Revenue codification.
Rao Bahadur v. State of Bombay (1952)
Confirmed that ryots have the right to challenge illegal exactions even if imposed by intermediaries, reflecting protection under the Revenue 1842 framework.
7. Significance in Modern Law
Formed the basis of Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966 and other western Indian states’ revenue systems.
Emphasized tenancy rights, record-keeping, and due process in revenue collection.
Still cited in historical land disputes and interpretation of revenue records.
8. Exam-Oriented Summary Table
| Aspect | Key Points |
|---|---|
| Enactment | Bombay Presidency, 1842 |
| Purpose | Standardize revenue, protect ryots, regulate land records |
| Land Classification | Wet, dry, garden, pasture |
| Rights | Ryot protection, appeal against illegal exactions |
| Administration | District Collector, Talukdars, Village Officers |
| Legal Principles | Fixity of assessment, tenant rights, proper record-keeping, appeals |
| Key Cases | Gajanan Raghunath Patil v. Collector Ahmednagar (1965), Shivaji R. Patil v. State of Maharashtra (1970), Rao Bahadur v. State of Bombay (1952) |
| Modern Relevance | Basis for Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966; cited in disputes and record interpretation |
9. Conclusion
The Revenue, Bombay, 1842 was a landmark colonial legislation formalizing revenue administration.
Introduced principles of assessment, record-keeping, tenant rights, and appeals.
Modern Indian revenue law, especially in Maharashtra, builds upon these principles, and courts still rely on historical interpretation in certain disputes.
Key takeaway: It balances state revenue interests with protection of tenants and legal certainty in land administration.
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