The Rajasthan  Land Revenue Act, 1956 Chapter II The Board of Revenue Introductory (Sec 4 to 14)

The Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956 Chapter II The Board of Revenue Introductory (Sec 4 to 14)

4. Establishment and Composition of Board –

(1) There shall be established for the State  of Rajasthan, a Board of Revenue here in after referred as the Board. 

5[(2) The Board shall consist of a Chairman, and not less than three and not more than  6[fifteen] other members]. 

(3) All appointments made under sub-section (2) shall be notified in the 7[Official  Gazette]. 

8[(4) The State Government shall prescribe the qualifications of persons who shall be  eligible for appointment as Chairman and member of the Board, the method of their selection  for appointment and the condition of their service: 

Provided that till the qualifications of persons to be eligible for appointment as Chairman  and Members of the Board are prescribed by the Government and appointments are made in  accordance therewith their qualification shall continue to be the same as prescribed by sub section (4), as it stood immediately before the commencement of the Rajasthan Land Revenue  (Amendment) Ordinance, 1969.] 

9[(5) The Constitution of the Board shall not be deemed to be invalid if any vacancy  occurs on account of the death, resignation, expiry or termination of the appointment or  temporary absence of the Chairman or any member.]

(5Subs. And shall be deemed always to have been subs. Vide Sec. 2(ii) of Raj. Act No. 21 of 1966, pub. in Raj. Rajpatra,  Part IV-A, Extraordinary dt. 13-10-1966. 

6Subs. For ten vide Sec. 2 of the Raj. Revenue (Admt.) Act 1986, pub. in Raj. Rajpatra, Part IV-(ka), Extraordinary dt. 15-9- 1986, Page 1, w.e.f. 23-7-1986. 

7Subs. By Sec. 4 of Raj. Act No. 2 of 1958, pub. in Raj. Rajpatra, dt. 13-1-1958. 

8Subs. Vide Raj. Act No. 6 of 1970, pub. in Raj. Rajpatra, dt. 24-4-1970. 

9Ins. vide Raj. Act No. 6 of 1970, pub. in Raj. Rajpatra, dt. 24-4-1970. )

5. Tenure of Members –

All members of the Board shall hold office during the pleasure of  the 10[Governor]. 

(10 Subs. Vide Part 1 of the Fourth Schedule to the Rajasthan Adaptation of Laws Order, 1955, pub. in Raj. Rajpatra, dt. 1- 11-1956. )

6. Place of Sitting –

The headquarters of the Board of Revenue shall be at 11[Ajmer] but  subject to the general or special orders of the State government, it shall be lawful for the Board  to sit at any place within its jurisdiction.   

(11 Union of India v. Col. J.N. Sinha, AIR 1951 SC 40 : 1970 (2) SCC 458.)

7. Ministerial Officers –

(1) There may be appointed for the Board, a registrar and such  other ministerial officers as may be necessary for the exercise and performance of the powers  conferred and duties imposed on it by the Act or by or under any other enactment, rule or order  for the time being in force. 

(2) The Registrar and other officers appointed under sub-section (1) shall, subject to  general or special orders of the State Government, exercise such powers and discharge such  functions as the Board may direct.

8. Powers of the Board –

Subject to the other provisions of this Act or to the provisions of  the Rajasthan Tenancy Act, 195 (Rajasthan Act 3 of 1955) or of any other law in force, the  Board shall be the highest revenue court of appeal, revision and reference in Rajasthan: 

Provided that in all matters where there is a doubt or dispute involving the determination  of the jurisdiction of a civil or a revenue court in respect thereof, the decision of the High Court  shall be final and binding on all civil and revenue courts in 12[the State] including the Board. 

(2) In addition to the powers mentioned in sub-section (1)., the Board shall exercise  such other powers and perform such other duties as may from time to time entrusted to it by the Government or as are conferred or imposed on the Board by or under this Act or any other  law for the time being in force. 

(12. Subs. Vide S. 4 of Raj. Act No. 2 of 1958, pub. in Raj. Rajpatra Part IV-A, Extra-ord., dt. 13-1-1958. )

9. General Superintendence of Subordinate Revenue Courts –

Subject to other  provisions of this Act, the general superintendence and control over all revenue courts and  over all revenue officers shall be versed in, and all such courts and officers shall be  subordinate the Board. 

10. Jurisdiction of Board how exercised –

(1) Except as otherwise provided by or under  this Act or by any other law or enactment for the time being in force in the whole or any part of  13[the State and subject to an rule made in that behalf, the jurisdiction of the Board may be  exercised - 

(a) by the Chairman or any other member of the Board, sitting singly, or (b) by a Bench of the Board, consisting of two or more members: 

Provided that a party aggrieved by a decision of a single member shall have the right to make  a special appeal to a bench consisting of two or more members of the Board within one month  from the date of the decision of the single member, 14[if the member who passed the judgment  15[and if the member who passed the judgment ceases to be attached the Board, any other  member] declares that the case is a fit one for appeal]. 

(2) Subject to any rules made in that behalf, the Chairman may distribute the business  of the Board & make such territorial or other divisions of its jurisdiction as he may deem fit.

(3) Every order made or act done under sub-section (1) or in accordance with the  distribution or division made under sub-section (2), shallbe deemed to be the order or act, as  the case may be, of the Board.

(13 Added vide Sec. 2 of Raj. Act No. 5 of 1964, published in Raj. Gazette Ex-ord., dt. 26-3-1964.

14 Substituted vide Sec. 4 o Raj. Act No. 2 of 1958, published in Raj. Rajpatra, dt. 13-1-1958. 

15 Ins. vide Sec. 2 of Raj. Act No. 3 of 1991, pub. in Raj. Gaz. Ex-ord. 4 (Ka) dt. 27-3-1991, P. 101.)

11. Power to refer to a Bench –

The Chairman or any other member of the Board sitting  singly for the disposal of any case or proceeding may, if he thinks fit, for reasons to be  recorded in writing, refer any question of law or custom having the force of law or of the  construction of any document arising before him in such case or proceeding, for the opinion of  Bench, and the case or proceeding shall be disposed of in accordance with such opinion.

12. Power to refer question to High Court –

(1) If any case it appears to a Bench that any  such question as is referred to in Section 11 is of public importance and that it is expedient to  obtain the opinion of the High Court thereon, the Bench may refer the question to that Court. 

(2) The High Court may, after such hearing as it thinks fit, record opinion on the  question so referred and the decision of the case shall be in confirmity with such opinion. 

13. Decision in case of difference of opinion –

(1) Where a case is heard by a Bench of  the Board, the decision of such case shall be in accordance with the opinions of the majority of  the members who hear it. 

(2) Where such members are equally divide in opinion as to the order to be made in  such case, the case shall be referred to another member and decided in accordance with the  opinion of the majority of the members including such other members who hear it. 

14. Registers etc. to be kept –

The Board shall cause to be kept and maintained such  registers, books and accounts as may be prescribed o as may be necessary for the transaction  of its business.