Zamindar - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition zamindar

Definition :

Zamindar, a 'zamindar' is presumed to be the owner of the underground rights in the tenancies created by him in the absence of evidence that he ever parted with them. A ghatwal means a guard of the passes and the term ghatwali tenure was applied by the Moghuls to lands assigned at a low rent or free of rent for guarding the mountain passes and protecting the villages near the hills from the depredations of law less hill tribes, Sukh Dev Singh v. Maharaja Bahadur of Gidhaur, AIR 1951 SC 288 (293): (1951) SCR 534.

The word 'Zamindar' is used in a wajib-ul-arz, which was prepared by revenue officers during the course of the settlement, was given the ordinary meaning given to them in revenue proceeding. The word 'zamindari' has a well-established connota-tion. It means 'a person' who is the owner or a co-sharer of a mohal and as such has an interest in the common land of the mahal and the management of the mahal, has the right to realise rent from tenants and in the absence of a contract to the country is liable to pay land revenue to government, Ram Kishore v. B. Ravindra, AIR 1955 All 59: (1954) All LJ 726: (1955) All WR 50.