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*BILL No. XX OF 1937 TO ABOLISH THE KHOTI SYSTEM

The following Bill for the introduction of which leave was granted to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, M.L.A., at the meeting of the Bombay Legislative Assembly on the 17th September 1937 is published under rule 20 of the Bombay Legislative Assembly Rules : —

BILL No. XX OF 1937

A Bill to abolish the Khoti System

WHEREAS it is desirable and necessary to abolish the system of revenue farming known as the Khoti System and to extend the principles of the Rayatwari System as being more beneficial to the area where the Khoti System is in operation; It is hereby enacted as follows : —

1. Short title and extent. —This Act shall be called “The Khoti Abolition Act, 1937.” It shall extend to the whole of the Presidency of Bombay.

2. Aboition of Khoti System. —After the passing of this Act it shall be lawful for Government by notification in the Government Gazette to declare that the Khoti Rights of a particular khot or of khots in a particular area are abolished from such date as may be mentioned in the said notification.

3. After notification Khot not entitled to act as Khot and Government not bound to employ or recognise him as Khot. —From the date of any such notification so much of any law, custom or usage now in force which entitles the Khot to act as a Khot or which requires Government to employ or recognise a Khot or which confers upon him the rights of Khot shall cease to be enforced in any suit or proceedings in any Court.

4. After notification Khot free from liability in respect of revenue. —From the date of any such notification the Khot shall be free from any liability to Government relating to revenue becoming due after the date of the notification.

5. Compensation to Khots. —( i ) It shall be lawful for Government to pay reasonable compensation to the Khot for the loss of his rights as a Khot suffered by him in consequence of the notification :

Provided that the compensation shall not exceed one per cent. of the assessment leviable under the Land Revenue Code in respect of the land held by him as Khot.

*The Bombay Government Gazette, Part V, dated October 21, 1937, pp. 88-94.