Meghalaya has three district regions, the Garo Hills, the Khasi Hills and the Jaintia hills inhabited respectively by the people with traditions which differ from locality to locality and from tribe to tribe . The Garo Hills, the Khasi Hills and the Jaintia Hills have their own histories separate from one another. Here the traditional and unwritten customary laws are applied and followed in large measure. Land belongs to and is owned by the community and the various class. Distribution and use of the land is done by the community and elders of the clan according to the customs and usages. Land system is not the same throughout the state. In spite of the difference in the evolution and the present status of the land system in the state, there are also some sort of uniformities among the system.

Coming to the Garo Hills, the Zamindars occupied large tracts of land in the foothills. But they surrendered to the British after their accession to the Diwan of Bengal in 1765. Later the British also carried out expedition against the Garos who accepted their sovereignty and agreed to pay a house tax against each Garo family. The British however could not introduce any land law or rules for the administration of land in the Garo Hills. The Deputy commissioner administered lands by executive orders and general instructions received by the Government . Only in later years, some provisions of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulations 1886 were applied.

The Jaintia Hills had been annexed by the British. But the latter did not introduce a formal land revenue administration in Jaintia Hills . Nor did they strictly enforce the informal system they chose to follow . The policy left by the Jaintia Raja was adopted. This was modified to conform to the exercise of the sovereign authority of the British.

After the Jaintia hills came under the administration of the British, the villages continued to remain under the charge of the Dolloi. The Dollois were nominated or elected by the inhabitants of the respective villages and their appointments confirmed by the British. The villages bordering the plains of Sylhet were under the management of the headman or Sirdars whose offices were considered hereditary.

A. LAND LAWS OF MEGHALAYA

Immediately after the creation of Meghalaya, the need to get the land surveyed and to prepare the record of rights was felt with a view to bring in the entire land tenures within one framework of the existing customary system. In 1973 , a commission was constituted to enquire into different land system in Khasi Hills including the changes which have taken place since the emergence of the British and also the difficulties faced by the people at all levels in the absence of the cadastral records. The commission was also asked to suggest remedial measures which might be considered best to serve the interests and wishes of the people. The commission recommended the immediate need of preparation of cadastral records in the entire state.

In Meghalaya , there was no legislation to deal with the basis land system. Certain sections of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886 have been adopted which deal mainly with the mode of recovery of arrears of land revenue, powers of officers, appeals, revisions and ejection, The basic issues relating to the preparation of the cadastral records remained untouched.

With a view to bringing the entire state under the cadastral survey operation, the Meghalaya Land Survey and Record Preparation Act, 1980 was passed and Rules were framed during 1982. This had enabled the state government to carry out such operation in the state.

B. ORGANISATIONAL SET UP

The management of land in the state is vested with the District Councils as per the provision of the Sixth Schedule to the constitution. The Government has therefore decided to adopt a new approach in implementing the cadastral survey scheme, i.e., to implement it through the District Councils with technical and financial support of the state government. Under section 3 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India, the District Councils are empowered to make laws with respect to the allotment , occupation, or use or the setting apart of land, other than any land which is a reserved forest for the purposes of agriculture or grazing or for residential or other non-agricultural purposes or for any other purpose likely to promote the interest of the inhabitants of any village or town.

Accordingly all the three autonomous district councils in the state viz. Khasi Jilts, Jaintia hills, and Garo Hills have made law for these purposes. The following areas fall under the jurisdiction of these councils.

Although the cadastral survey operation was started in the sixth plan period the progress of the survey work has not been satisfactory, upto the end of the year 1993-94. Traverse survey was completed in one hundred and eighty villages, detailed survey in twelve villages and boundary demarcation of two Akhing lands. Though the survey staff have been placed at the disposal of the autonomous district councils, the progress is very slow.

Although Meghalaya Land Survey and Records Preparation Act was enacted in 1980 to proceed with cadastral survey and formulate a record of rights in Meghalaya and subsequently through an amendment, the three autonomous district councils were formally involved in work . Not much progress has been made . Very little effort has been made to implement the law. Just deputation of staff and arrangement of funds are not enough for enforcing the Act.

Since the survey work is a new concept in the area, local people were not responding to the Act. They did not welcome the operation. In places such as the Khasi Hills , it even met with stiff resistance. The people were apprehensive of this programme due to the fear of interfering with the age old customary system and imposition of land revenue. To overcome these problem, the Government has taken measures by way of demonstrating the benefits from the cadastral records and assuring that no land revenue will be imposed.

The co-operation of the people was consequently enlisted and the survey work is in progress in the Garo Hill Districts and the Jaintia Hill Districts. Cadastral survey has been completed in a few villages and the records are under finalisation.

D. COMPUTERISATION

preparation of the record of rights. Unless the efforts are made in right earnest modernisation and computerisation cannot be undertaken.

                                ( ARMRAA)

E. SURVEY TRAINING SCHOOL

The course of the school is chain survey , triangulation , traversing, plain tabling , preparation of maps, use of conventional signs, scale making, map drawing, inking and tracing, area calculation with planimeter, acre comb, acre square etc., . It also includes maintenance of survey records including survey marks.

The theoretical class includes arithmetic, geometry, mensuration in addition to survey subjects. Land records training forms a part of the course. Theoretical and practical training in land records is given to the students by the Principal and Teacher to qualify than for the recorders class certificate.

The school is functioning at present with one principal drawn from the state civil service . Besides there are two instructors and one headmaster. The duration of the course is six months. Candidates sponsored by the district councils and neighbouring states are admitted in the school.

There is another training institute for officers. It is known as the "Meghalaya Officers Survey Training Institute". This institute was established in 1987 with a view to imparting training to the senior officers particularly from the state civil services and police services in survey and settlement. The institute is temporarily located at the Meghalaya survey building.

However there is utmost necessity to provide proper infrastructure to the school. Even the teachers and instructors should be trained in advanced and modern techniques. But such qualities are lacking among the trainers because the state government has not been able to send them for training courses in Hyderabad. Paucity of funds has created hurdles in payment of requisite fees for Survey of India courses organised at Hyderabad.

Mizoram became the 23^rd state of Indian union in February, 1987. It was one of the districts of Assam till 1972 when it became a union territory. After being annexed by the British in 1891, for the first few years, Lushai Hills in the north remained under Assam while the southern half remained under Bengal . Both these parts were amalgamated in 1898 into one district called Lushai Hill district under the Chief Commissioner of Assam. With the implementation of the North Eastern Reorganisation Act in 1972, Mizoram became a union territory. As a sequel to the signing of the historic memorandum of settlement between Government of India and the Mizo national Front in 1986, it was granted statehood in February 1987.

Mizoram had an area of 21081 square kms. The state is divided into three districts, nine sub - divisions and twenty blocks. The number of Panchayats is 622 and no of villages is 736.

A. LAND SYSTEM

Prior to the British period the Mizo village was more like a republic with the chief as its head . The dictatorial power of one chief was also checked by the presence of other chiefdoms in the hills conflict with whom could result in blood feuds and head hunting. The chief’s court functioned as the highest legal authority in a village.

Before the consolidation of British rule the territorial boundaries of the villages were not clearly marked resulting in feuds and inter village rivalries. With the advent of the British, the situation changed and the village boundaries became clearly demarcated. By the time the British consolidated their position in the area, the total number of dethroned chiefs was three hundred and nine.

B. ORGANISATIONAL SET - UP

The revenue , survey and land records functions are combined in a single department known as "Land, Revenue and Settlement Department" headed by a Director who belongs to Mizoram Civil Service . He is supported by one Joint Director and two Deputy Directors ( administrative and technical), again supported by three Assistant Directors, one administrative and two technical. There is one Assistant Settlement Officer II (MCS) to deal updating of land records and disputed cases. There are supporting technical staff of four categories, viz., Head Surveyor (I), Surveyor - I (8), Surveyor - II (6), and Surveyor - III (12). The department has a Drawing Section consisting of cartographer.

The district level functionary consists of Deputy Commissioner assisted by one Assistant Settlement Officer and three Assistant Settlement Officer with technical staff viz., 1. Head surveyor , 4 surveyor I ; 6 surveyor II; 10 surveyor III , 8 Field supervisors, 10 field assistants and a drawing section consisting of 3 Cartographer III and 3 tracers. The sub-divisional level functionary consists of S.D.O. assisted by 1 Assistant Settlement Officer , surveyor III, 1 Field Supervisor and 2 Field Assistants. There are no circle level and village level functionaries.

                  TABLE - II

C. CURRENT STATUS

Mizoram is unsurveyed state for the purpose of land revenue administration. As a result there has been no dependable land records maintained. Land allotment, which has been progressively taken up and the records of private land holdings which have been maintained, are without any basis or reference to a survey maps.

Besides house - sites in the towns with existing houses are given permanent settlement and new house sites allotted to the new entrants and needy families in the towns, for which land settlement certificates are issued. Besides the number of big villages or centres declared as towns had greatly increased.

Moreover there has been spurt in settled cultivation in place of shifting cultivation in the rural areas and a growing land towards urbanisation. But in absence of cadastral survey and absence of dependable land records land allotments are without any basis or reference to a survey map.

In the light of new developments cadastral survey as a major project has to be carried out immediately. For this the Directorate of Survey and Settlement has to be strengthened and equipped in terms of technical manpower and survey equipment and machinaries . It requires additional qualified field staff in survey/cartography. It is urgently in need of strengthening with such technically trained manpower to be employed at various level in survey , preparation of land record and mapping.

Lack of requisite organisational structure and manpower are the main stumbling blocks in carrying out cadastral survey and record of rights operations. Necessary steps must be taken to augment the structure and staffing pattern.

Moreover there is no consolidated land law in the state. The revenue legislation enacted long time ago by district councils are still in vogue. They are both complicated and outmoded.

Under the centrally sponsored scheme, one project for computerisation was sanctioned upto 1995 at a cost of RS. 25 lakhs as shown in table III. Subsequently 4 more projects were added at a cost of RS. sixty Lakhs. Now the total funds released under this head was RS.172.78 lakhs for

( IN LAKHS )

the on going projects and out of this only RS. 85 lakhs was spent. Thus the utilisation percentage was 63% and the unspent balance was RS. 50.00 lakhs.

Under the head of strengthening of revenue administration and updating of land records. The year wise figures may be seen in Table IV. The table shows that the fund released was RS. 776.79 lakhs but the fund utilised was RS. 350.90 lakhs which comes to 71.52% of the total amount.

The state has no school/institute for survey training. The land revenue and settlement department conducted a 3 week refresher course in 1988-89 and 1989-90 once in a year for the lowest level functionary i.e., Field Assistant/Field supervisor (almost same as patwari). The state depends mainly on STI (S0I), Hydrabad and also on other states like Karnataka, Meghalaya and Madhya Pradesh.

Most of the Group ‘A’ officers belong to Mizoram Civil Service. These officers get no training in survey and settlement due to absence of a Survey Training Institute in Mizoram. Training like 1-2 months course for senior officers and 3-6 months’ for junior officers is required. There are about 150-200 officers of this cadre.

( ARMRAA)

A. LAND SURVEY

In Nagaland no cadastral survey was conducted except in Dimapur area which was brought under the Assam Settlement Act before it was declared a tribal area. Realising the peculiar sentiments attachment of the Nagas towards their law attachment of the Nagas towards their law and repugnance to any revenue or tax on land the British were satisfied with the imposition of a house tax but not on the land itself. In the beginning , submission of a few Naga villages did not indicate the real feeling of the Nagas. But the start of the survey operations made them suspicious that the British were trying to bring them under their tax system by depriving them of their independence. Despite such suspicion and ill feeling till the end of 1873, the Nagas did not throw any major challenge to the survey but since the beginning of 1874, survey parties had to face hostile opposition from the Nagas. Early in 1875 Lt Holcombe, Assistant Commissioner of Lakhimpur and

his party were suddenly attacked at Ninu resulting in the death of Holcombe and 80 of his men. On 25^th December 1875, Captain Butler, Political Officer , Naga Hill District was severely wounded in an ambush at Pangti and on 7^th January, 1876 he succumbed to his injuries.

Notwithstanding these tragic happenings, the British emphasised the realisation of revenue as a symbol of authority and disciplinary matter rather than for any fiscal advantage. Their demands and exactions became so much irritating to some powerful Naga tribes that they preapared for a showdown.

The village of Visvena, Chedema, Jakhama, Khonoma, Jotsoma and Jetonema khel of Kohima were determined to fight against them. The visit of Damant to the Village of Khonoma on 14^th October, 1879 culminated in his death. Consequently even after the Nagas failed to succeed, the British took care not to disturb tribal pattern of administration and more particularly the traditional system of land tenure. The freedom loving Nagas were unaccustomed to the payment of any levy of land on land which was considered by them as free gift of God and the British imposed only house tax.

B. ORGANISATIONAL SET UP

a) Map Production headed by Assistant Director,

D. MODERNISATION

In spite of the small size of the state and its land records modern techniques of survey and the use of computers for storage and retrieval of records are considered essential. Some computers have been procured and staff are being trained to handle the same.

Now the Government of India has taken up Nagaland under its computerisation programme. No fund had been given for this programme till 1999-2000. As a result the government of Nagaland had tried to accommodate the computerisation scheme under the strengthening of revenue administration and updating of land records on 50:50 centre state sharing basis. Under this scheme, purchase of computerisation machines namely ‘ Cartomatric digitiser’ had been initiated. But the state government is unable to contribute its share. The state government requested the Government of India to extend hundred percent grant or to make use of the central share only and the central government has responded well by releasing RS. 25.15 Lakhs in 1999-2000.

( IN LAKHS )

                                                ( ARMRAA : 1999-2000 )

The Government of Nagaland has received about RS. 138.20 Lakhs under stregthening of revenue administration and updating of records till 99-00 as shown in Table IV but the utilisation of fund has been very slow. Only RS. 58.920 Lakhs has been utilised upto 99-2000

                                 ( ARMRAA)

No aerial survey has been conducted in the state. A pilot project of the aerial survey of the foothill area of the state was proposed to be taken up with the Survey of India, Dehrudun. But the project has not been started as yet. Paucity of funds has also impeded the project of aerial survey.

E. SURVEY TRAINING INSTITUTE

There is a Survey Training Institute in Nagaland . It was started in 1982 under the control of the Directorate of Land Records and Survey. This is the only institute where the survey personnel of the Directorate of Land Records and Survey are given necessary training after recruitment. Traversers and computers are given training in operating theodolites and processing the data so collected as the required knowledge had to be imparted only after recruitment. Plain tabling is the only method adopted for general ground survey. Training is imparted to the surveyors in various methods such as chain survey, compass survey, plain tabling survey, etc. but more emphasis is given to plain tabling, survey and construction of land records. Besides, basic refresher courses are arranged every year to the existing field workers.

The present strength of the technical teaching staff in the survey training Institute are I) Deputy Director cum Principal ii) Assistant Lecturer, iii) Instructor - 3 iv) Demonstrator - 1 v) Chainman - 4 . Thus the training institute is run with a few staff only. Sometimes services of other field staff are taken to conduct the training properly. Strengthening of the institute is urgently needed for proper and smooth running of the institute.

REFERENCES

Density - 33 per sq. km.

Districts - 4

Sub - Divisions- 8

Blocks - 8

Firkas/Circles- 40

Panchayats - 138

Villages - 785

Sikkim is known in the Tibetan language as ‘Denzong’ and more rarely ‘Demojaang’ or ‘Domoshong’ i.e., the end of rice. The name Sikkim has been properly derived from two Limboo words meaning ‘New palace’ refers to the new kingdom founded by the first ruler Phum Tse Namgyal . It was known to the Lepchas, the original inhabitants of Sikkim.

There is evidence that during sometime before the Limbu Rule and the advent of Tibetans , the kingdom was under the sway of an Indian king Chandrapatta. His dynasty apparently had taken no interest in the wild and unproductive state. The kingdom was then called Vijay Pur Sikkim.

After establishment of Namgyal dynasty, Phuntsog Namgyal was the first consecrated ruler. A centralised body was formed for the first time in Sikkim. The Limbu Chief who were then ruling most of the country accepted Namgyal’s suzerainty. The kingdom was then extended for beyond its present frontiers.

In the 18^th century the country lost considerable territories to Bhutan and then to Nepal. In 1874 on the outbreak of the Nepal war with East India company, The Maharaja of Sikkim Tsugphud Namgyal formed his first alliance with the British Government. At the termination of the hostilities considerable portion of territory lost to Nepal was restored to Sikkim by the British.In 1833 - 34, Sikkim ceded Darjeeling to British India at the request of British Government of India to convert into a sanatorium. The area included a strip of land 24 miles long and about 6 miles wide stretching from North of Pankhabarie including villages of Darjeeling and Kurseong.

In 1850, the British annexed the whole Darjeeling district covering an area of 640 sq. miles as a punishment for treatment meted out to Dr. Hooker an explorer and Dr Cambell who accompanied him. The ‘Sikkimpati’ Raja of Sikkim was given an allowance of RS. 3000 per annum which was subsequently raised to RS. 6000. Sikkim was finally placed under the British superintendency in 1888 and it became a protectorate under the Anglo Chinese convention of 1893. A political officer was stationed at Gangtok, the capital to advise and assist the Maharaja in the governance of the country and to preside over the state council. This arrangement lasted till 5 of April 1918 when Sir Tashi Namgyal was invested with full powers of administration of his kingdom.

Even prior to 1947 political leaders in Sikkim were under the influence of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and other distinguished Indian leaders. The idea of democracy and setting up republican form of government fired their imagination. Disintegration of the princely states in India raised the hopes of the Sikkimese people to achieve liberty or emancipation. As Sikkim was virtually ruled by the British with the Maharaja as its nominal head, the local leaders expected that the new Indian pattern would be more suitable to Sikkim. When India became independent, a section of the public opinion favoured the merger of Sikkim with India. But the contemporary status of the princely rule in that state created hurdles. Thus after the lapse of the paramountcy, a treaty was entered into between Sikkim and the Government of India, by which the latter shouldered the responsibility to deal with defence, external affairs and communication of the state. The Government of India was represented in Sikkim by a Political Officer. Sikkim thus became a protectorate of the union of India.

The Maharaja, who was known as "Chogyal" in Sikkim, exercised executive powers through his Diwan. The discriminatory practices amongst the masses , including the Lepchas, Bhutias, and Nepalese led to strong political unrest and disgruntlement. On the other side, Chogyal became the centre of the absolute power. His manipulation in election to install the chosen men on the one hand and on the other hand his move to obtain a status for Sikkim similar to that of Bhutan resulted in confrontation with the majority of the people and consequently with the central government . All these factors caused mass upheaval in April 1973 and the situation went beyond control. All the roads linking to the outlying areas were blocked. The police personnel deserted their posts with all their fire-arms . In Gangtok the police were disarmed and sent to the barracks for fear of retaliation by thousands of people joining the agitation. Chogyal was confined to his palace, guarded by the palace guards. The Indian army came to the rescue of the ruler by erecting effective road blocks to prevent the mob from entering the palace area. Almost all the civil servants joined the agitation. The local students started acting as policemen and administrators. In May 1974, the Sikkim Congress decided to put an end to the monarchical form of government. The Sikkim Assembly passed the Government of Sikkim Act, 1974 for the formation of the fully responsible government in the state and for promoting its relation with the mainstream of the central government of India. The Chogyal very reluctantly gave his assent to the new transition. In this way the effective power went into the hands of the representatives of the Sikkim Assembly and the Chogyal was reduced to a titular head. The Thirty Fifth Amendment of the Indian Constitution in 1974 brought the necessary provision of giving sufficient representation to the people of Sikkim in the Indian Parliament.

The population of Sikkim is mainly composed of Nepalese, Bhutias and Lepchas. The Lepchas were the original inhabitants of the state. Today they have been reduced to a minority. The Bhutias came along with the Lamas and settled down in Sikkim. They were different from the natives in the sense that they were very bold, strong and aggressive. They possessed these qualities because they came from a barren and infertile land. All these qualities enabled them to overcome the Lepchas and occupy their land. Economically the Lepchas are the most backward community living in Sikkim today. In order to improve their economic condition, a Revenue Order was issued in 1917, which deprived persons other than the Lepchas of Zenghu of the right to settle in zengu area. But Chogyal ,the then ruler of the state, made special dispensation in the revenue order and settled many big landlords within this restricted area. This step of the ruler undermined the hopes of the Lepchas to improve their poverty.

Another revenue order was issued on 17^th May 1917 by Mr C. A. Bell. It declared that the Bhutias and Lepchas were restrained from selling, mortgaging and subletting any part of their land to any person other than Bhutias or Lepchas without the prior sanction of the government. Another Revenue Circular was issued on 16^th October, 1924 to limit the area of land to be held by different categories of persons. Under this circular, Bustiwala could hold land upto twenty ( 20 ) acres, Mondol could hold land upto thirty ( 30 ) acres and Kazi, Thikadar or Landlord could possess land upto one hundred ( 100 ) acres.

The State did not collect any tax through its departmental agency. Land revenue was raised from ‘Raiyites’ through middlemen ( known as Landlord, Thikadars and Kazis ). The entire area of the state was divided into various estates, big and small, which were leased to people for fixed terms on conditions mentioned in the lease deed. The landlords or lessees used to pay to the state a fixed sum at the rate calculated per acre, which varied according to the conditions of the estate so leased. They were authorised under the terms of the lease deeds to realise the land revenue and other taxes from the various lessees. These lease deeds were issued by the Durbar with the express sanction of the Political Officer in 1900 for a period of fifteen years. They were however renewed from time to time. The leases were not transferable without the express sanction of the ruler. There were 104 estates in Sikkim and each estate was divided into convenient blocks and each block was kept under the supervision of a Mondol. Out of 104 estates, 15 estates formed the private estates of the Maharaja. They consisted of 62 blocks. Five estates were meant for the upkeep of the five big monasteries of Sikkim, which at present consist of 38 blocks. Twenty-one estates were with the Kazis and 6 with the Bhutias. Eight estates were with Lepchas and 13 were with the Nepalese domiciled Indians and other estates were merged by the Government. In response to the popular demand of the people of Sikkim , the then Diwan of Sikkim issued a notification dated 20^th August, 1949 that the land revenue which was being paid to the agents of the estates would be directly paid to the government. This was duly approved by the Chogyal of Sikkim.

It is however interesting to note that the notification of 1949 failed to make any reference to the abolition of the estates under the management of the Chogyal and the monasteries. The private estates of Chogyal and the monastery estate continued to receive land revenue for the areas allocated to them. They continued to run the land revenue administration as they pleased.

Out of 62 blocks within the dominion of the private estate of Chogyal in 18 blocks (including 13 blocks of Jongu) the employees of Chogyal used to collect land revenue and other local taxes directly through its own agencies even after the promulgation of the Notification of 1949. However in the remaining 44 blocks, the land revenue was collected through the District Officers and was being paid to the private estate after deducting ten percent towards collection charges. The settlement records of these blocks were maintained by the office of the private estate organisation of the Chogyal.

All the land owned by primary holders were settled with tenants who fell under three categories. One was known as Adhayas in whose case the tenant and the landowner shared the produce equally. The other was known as Kut system in which the Kutdar was given land for tilling under certain terms and conditions which was mostly ¾ : ¼ . The share of the crop and other restrictions imposed on the tenant varied from place to place. The Kutdar ordinarily had to pay a fixed quantity of the produce as determined from agricutural year to year. No remission was allowed in case there was a crop failure. Besides the Kutdar was liable to labour in the fields of primary holders and also to give to them ‘salami’. As reported at page 20 of the Report of the Committee on Land Reforms, 1975, Government of Sikkim, the Kutdar was also liable to pay ‘salami’ to the palace on the festive occasions. The third category of the tenants were called ‘Chakareys’ and ‘Pakhureys’. In lieu of the service of the manual labour rendered by them to the monasteries and Lamas, a portion of the land was given to them for cultivation.

As regards the land held directly under the Chogyal, his employees settled terms with local landlords for leasing land on Chogyal’s behalf and the middlemen paid fixed amount to them but the agent landlords in turn oppressively rack-rented the tenants.

The Settlement Report of 1958 shows that there were 2707 holdings with the monastery estates which constituted eight percent of the total number of holdings, surveyed and settled. There were two categories of monastery estates viz. ( i ) monasteries managed by the monastery wing of the private estate ( Roomtek and Phodong ), and (ii) monasteries managed by Uder Tsosum ( managing body of Pemiongtse and Ralong ). In the first category, the monastery wing of the private estate collected land rent , local rates, other taxes. Thus the monastery estates and the Chogyal estates exercised powers of parallel government with the Government of Sikkim as far as land revenue and collection of taxes were concerned.

Tenancy Act in the State of Sikkim was not introduced during the superintendency of the Government of India and regime of the Maharajas of Sikkim till May 1975. It thus appeared that the land in the state broadly speaking belongs to the Government . The rights of the land owners are fixed and secured and are governed by state notification and custom. The land owner deriving his title from the Government regards his land as private heritable and saleable and otherwise transferable property. The complexity of the land revenue by steam of the state and the nature of leases issued earlier to the various elakhadars in the working of that system. Land lordism was fully abolished after state notification no. 402-250 G dated 23.5.1954