CHENNAI: Grama Natham land records will undergo a change in nomenclature to avoid confusion, as the government plans to introduce computerised natham record software to be used by people shortly. It will now be recorded as Ryotwari Manai, according to a Government Order issued recently.
The change in nomenclature was necessitated as natham adangal records across the state are not uniform during natham settlement. In some places it is called natham manai with patta owner’s name, and in some other places it is referred as natham poramboke with the patta owner’s name. In some places, it is known as sarkar natham with patta owner’s name and in some others, it is referred as arasu or sarkar manai with the name of patta owner.
According to officials, the natham adangal and other natham records were so far handled physically by taluk revenue authorities, as a result, there was no inconvenience to the common man irrespective of classification. However, upon the roll out of computerisation, if different notations are used, it will lead to an anomalous situation wherein if the land is classified as ‘government manai’, it will be treated as government land and transfer of registry will be prohibited.
This will result in huge inconvenience to the public. This will also give a wrong perception that government land is being encroached upon by the public which is not reflective of reality. These land are private property within the meaning of natham survey and settlement, the Government Order issued by Revenue Secretary Kumar Jayant said.
As a result, natham nanjai, punjai, manai with patta owner’s name will be recorded as ryotwari manai. Similarly, natham poramboke with patta, natham sondam with patta owner’s name, natham private with patta owner’s name’ arasu or sarkar manai with patta owner’s name; natham lands that are classified as sarkar poramboke in A-register (rural) but have been assigned natham patta with proper entries in natham adangal under natham settlement scheme in 1996 will be known as ryotwari manai. Similarly, lands that are classified as ‘sarkar poramboke and marked as kaali natham or kaalimanai in the remarks column of natham adangal will be called as ryotwari manai, according to the order.
However, land that are classified as sarkar poramboke and marked as kaali natham or kaalimanai in the remarks column of natham adangal but without patta owner; and land classified as temple, burial grounds, roads, state highways, national highways, parks, schools and other public utilities will be classified as sarkar poramboke.
Land records were created during the colonial times for collection of revenue from agricultural areas. Land predominantly used for dwelling purpose were insignificant from the point of collection of land revenue and were left out without settling the individual occupation or ownership. These land were classified as grama natham.