Watandar - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition watandar

Definition :

Watandar, the definition of 'watandar' in s. 4 of the Bombay Hereditary Offices Act which is in two parts-first setting out what 'watandar' means and the other stating what is included in it- should be regarded as constituting one whole definition, and it would be wrong to regard the meaning portion as primary and the inclusive part as illustrative. The Watan Act contemplated two classes of persons. One is a larger class of persons belonging to the watan families having a hereditary interest in the watan property as such and the other a smaller class of persons who were appointed as representative watandars and who were liable for the performance of duties connected with the office of such watandars. It would not be correct to limit the word 'watandar' only to his narrow class of persons who could claim to have a hereditary interest both in the watan property and in the hereditary office. Watan property had always been treated as property belonging to the family and all persons belonging to the watan family who had a hereditary interest in such watan property were entitled to be called 'watandars of the same watan' within the Watan Act, Nagesh Bisto Desai v. Khando Tirmal Desai, AIR 1982 SC 887 (896): (1982) 2 SCC 79: (1982) 3 SCR 341. [Bombay Here-ditary Offices Act (3 of 1874), s. 4]