Section 4: Utilisation of land for cultivation purposes in certain circumstances

(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any law for the time being in force, if the Collector is satisfied that any agricultural land has remained uncultivated for two years or more or has not at all been cultivated, he may, by a written notice in the prescribed form, call upon the landholder or tenant of such land. within thirty days from the date of the service of such notice- (a) to cultivate the said land personally, or (b) to arrange for its cultivation forthwith, or (c) to let out or sublet such land for cultivation. Provided that no notice shall be issued under this sub-section in respect of any land which is grove land or which is considered necessary to be retained as pasture land or which is required to be kept fallow for regaining its fertility or which is by virtue of any custom or practice used as a threshing floor or a road or a path or an irrigation tank or for any other like purpose. (2) If such landholder or tenant shows to the satisfaction of the Collector within the time specified in sub-section (1) that the land in question is not capable of being cultivated, or that it is already being cultivated or has been let out for cultivation, the Collector shall cancel the notice. (3) The Collector may suspend the notice if he is satisfied that such land holder or tenant is making arrangements for the cultivation of the land himself and, if the whole or any part of such land is so cultivated within the time for which the notice remains suspended, the Collector shall cancel the notice in respect of the whole or part so cultivated. (4) If the notice is neither complied with nor cancelled under sub section (2) or sub-section (3) the Collector shall order the Tehsildar, to let out such land for a specified period not exceeding 2five years in the prescribed order of preference and in the prescribed manner to a person on a rent to determined in accordance with law, and the person to whom such land is let out shall be liable to pay the rent so determined direct to the land holder. (5) The Collector after considering objections, if any, may, while ordering the Tehsildar to let out land as aforesaid, direct that the lessees shall grow there in specified crops; and, subject to any such direction of the Collector, the Tehsildar may let out such land for the purpose of growing there in of a specified crop by the lessees.