Keyword(s):
Adhiadar, Agricultural Year, Agricultural Land, Bustiwalla, Ceiling Limit,
Charitable Purpose, Family, Homestead, Non-Agricultural Land, Religious
Purpose, Kutiadar

THE SIKKIM AGRICULTURAL
LAND CEILINGAND REFORMS ACT, 1977
(ACT NO. 14 OF 1978)
AN
ACT
to provide for the imposition of a ceiling on agricultural lands, for the vesting of such lands
in excess of the Ceiling limit and for matters connected therewith, with a view to preventing the
concentration of agricultural lands in the State of Sikkim in the hands of a few persons to the
common detriment and with a view to bringing about equitable distribution of agricultural lands in
the State of Sikkim to sub serve the common good.
[21.3.1978]
WHEREAS all bustiwallas in respect of agricultural lands in Sikkim hold such lands
directly under the State and there is no intermediate or interposing or intervening interest or
agency between the State and such bustiwallas.
And
WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the imposition of a ceiling on agricultural lands
held by the bustiwallas and other persons in the State of Sikkim, for the vesting. of such land in
excess of the ceiling limit and for matters connected therewith, with a view to preventing the
concentration of agricultural lands in the hands of a few persons to the common detriment and
with a view to bringing about an equitable distribution of the agricultural lands in the State of
Sikkim to sub serve the common good.
It is hereby enacted in the Twenty-eighth Year of the Republic of India by the Legislature
of Sikkim as follows:
CHAPTER I
Preliminary
Short title, extent
and commencement. 1. (1) This Act may be called the Sikkim Agricultural Land Ceiling
and Reforms Act, 1977.
It extends to the whole of Sikkim.
(2)
It shall come into force on such date as the Government may,
(3) by notification, appoint. 2.
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,
(a) “adhiadar” means a person who cultivates the land of a
bustiwalla on condition of delivering to or receiving from the
bustiwalla a share of the produce of such land;
( b) ‘agricultural year’ means the Fasli year being the period of
twelve calendar months commencing on and from the first of
day of February of one English year and ending with the
thirty-first day of January of the next English Year
immediately following;
(c) ‘agricultural land’ means land which is ordinarily used or
which is capable of being used for purposes of agriculture or
horticulture and includes such land, notwithstanding that it
may be lying fallow for the time being but does not include
any land used as homestead;
(d) ‘bustiwalla’ means a person who holds agricultural lands
directly under the State and holds it ordinarily for the purpose
of cultivating it by himself or by members of this family or by
servants or laborers or by Adhiadar or by Kutiadar or by other
cultivators.
Explanation: ‘Cultivator’ a means person who cultivates the
land of another I on condition of payment of any
consideration in cash or kind or in both or on condition of
delivering or receiving a share or any fixed quantity of the
produce and includes a person who cultivates the land of
another person on any terms and conditions except as a paid
servant or. hired laborer.
(e) ‘ceiling limit’ means the ceiling limit as determined in
accordance with the provisions of section .6;
(f) ‘charitable purpose’ includes relief of the poor, medical relief
or the advancement of education or any other object of
general public utility;
Definitions.
227 228
(g) ‘competent authority’ means any person or authority
authorized by the State Government by notification to
perform the functions of the competent authority under this
Act for such area as may be specified in the notification and
different persons or authorities. may be authorized to perform
different functions;

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