Punjab Settlement Manual

Book excerpt: The proclamation of the annexation of Punjab was made by the British Government on 30th March, 1849 and the Government of the Province was put under the Board of Administration. This Board, too, was abolished in th February 1853 and its powers were Vested in the Chief Commissioner who controlled the administration of the Provinces with the help of Judicial Commissioner and the Financial Commissioner. Matters relating to land-revenue settlements were regulated in accordance with Mr Thamason s Directions initially which were put in the form of a handbook by Mr Robert Cust for the first time and later on were revised by Mr D C Barkley. The Present Manual, an independent work, was issued, after the examination by the Financial Commissioner and with the approval of the Government of the Punjab, on the said manuals becoming obsolete with a view to guiding Settlement Officers in the Province concerning assessments and the preparation of the record of rights. The object of this Manual is not only to describe the present policy and procedure in the matter of land-revenue settlements but also to trace the growth of that policy and procedure from annexation to the present time. The Manual is divided into three Books-Book I deals with Historical facts, Book II delineates the Record of Rights and Book III relates to the Assessment. This work is comprehensive in its materials and contains sixteen Appendices. The Manual will certainly serve as source material to future framers of Settlement policies. Contents Chapter 1: Introductory; Chapter 2: The Making of the Panjab; Chapter 3: Development of Settlement Policy in the North-Western Provinces Down to the Period of the Annexation of the Panjab; Chapter 4: The Sikh Revenue System; Chapter 5: Summary Settlements; Chapter 6: Development of Settlement Policy in the Panjab, 1846-1897; Chapter 7: Cesses; Chapter 8: Of Tenures and the Rights of Landowners; Chapter 9: On the Rights of Tenants; Chapter 10: Preliminary Measures in Connection with a Settlement; Chapter 11: The Settlement Officer and His Establishment and the Control Exercised by the Settlement Commissioner; Chapter 12: Survey; Chapter 13: Classes of Land and Soils; Chapter 14: The Record of Rights; Chapter 15: Preparation for Assessment; Chapter 16: Assessment Circles and Circle Rates; Chapter 17: Assessment Statistics; Chapter 18: The Standard of Assessment Net Assets and Rents; Chapter 19: The Half-Net Assets Estimated Based on Batai and Zabti Rents; Chapter 20: The Half-Net Assets Estimate Based on Fixed Cash and Grain Rents; Chapter 21: Miscellaneous Sources of Income Connected with Land; Chapter 22: Reasons for Deviating from the Half-Net Assets Estimate in Assessment; Chapter 23: General Considerations Affecting the Amount of the Assessment; Chapter 24: Assessment Guides Other than the Half-Net Assets Estimate; Chapter 25: Inspection of Estates for Assessment; Chapter 26: Assessment of Particular Classes of Land; Chapter 27: Fluctuating Assessments; Chapter 28: Term of Settlement Temporary and Permanent Settlements Redemption of the Land Revenue; Chapter 29: Progressive Assessments and Protective Leases; Chapter 30: Assessment Reports; Chapter 31: Distribution of Revenue Over Estates and Announcement of New Jamas; Chapter 32: Distribution of the Revenue Over Holdings; Chapter 33: Closing Operations; Chapter 34: Miscellaneous.