The KARNATAKA VILLAGE OFFICES ABOLITION ACT, 1961

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THE KARNATAKA VILLAGE OFFICES ABOLITION ACT, 1961
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Statement of Objects and Reasons:
Sections:
1. Short title, extent and commencement.
2. Definitions.
3. Powers of Deputy Commissioner to decide certain questions and appeals.
4. Abolition of village offices together with incidents thereof.
5. Re-grant of land resumed under section 4 to the holder of the village office.
6. Re-grant of land resumed under section 4 to authorised holders.
7. Eviction of unauthorised holder and re-grant to him in certain circumstances of land
resumed section 4.
7A. Restriction on transfer etc.,
8. Application of Tenancy Law.
9. Relief to holder of a village office.
10. Inquiries and proceedings to be judicial proceedings.
11. Rules.
12. Repeal and savings.
SCHEDULE I.
[SCHEDULE II Omitted]
* * * *
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS
I
Act 14 of 1961. - In pursuance of the Government policy of abolition of intermediaries, it is
considered desirable to abolish all the hereditary village offices, viz., Patels, Shanbhogs, Kulkarnis
and inferior village servants in order to put the Revenue Administration at t he point where it touches
the people most, in consonance with the modern spirit. Moreover, these offices are a relic of the old
feudal system and Government considers that the time has come to abolish them. The present Bill,
therefore, provides for the abolition of hereditary village offices.
Sub-clause (3) of clause 1 of the Bill would enable Government to proceed with the abolition of
these hereditary village offices in stages. This is essential because the abolition of these offices and
the replacement by stipendiary ones involves large financial commitments and other administrative
problems.
Clauses 4 of the Bill provides for the abolition of all hereditary vilage offices together with their
incidents. It provides for the resumption of all lands granted or continued in respect of or annexed to
hereditary village offices by the State and makes them liable to land revenue.
Clause 5 provides for the regrant of the resumed lands to the holder of the village offices.
Clause 6 of the Bill provides for the regrant of the resumed lands to authorised holders.
In order to obviate any hardship caused to persons holding unauthorisedly any land resumed under
sub-clause (3) of clause (4), provisions have been made in clause 7 permitting Government to regrant
resumed lands to the unauthorised holders on certain conditions.
Clauses 10 and 11 of the Bill provide for the payment of compensation to the holder of village
offices.

The other clauses provide for preferring of the appeals against the awards made by the
Deputy Commissioner, framing of rules, saving of obligations and liabilities, etc.
(Published in the Karnataka Gazette (Extraordinary) Part IV-2A dated 29th December 1959 as No.
111 at page 13.)
II
Amending Act 8 of 1968. —The Mysore Village Offices Abolit ion Act, 1961 was brought into force
from 1st February 1963. Sub -section (2) of section 9 of the Act provides that a holder of a Village
Office entitled to payment of relief shall make an application to the Deputy Commissioner within one
year from the appo intment date. The operation of the Mysore Village Offices Abolition Act was stayed
by the High Court and later by the Supreme Court on the petitions of some Village Officers. The
Supreme Court in its order dated 21st January 1966 have since upheld the validity of the Mysore
Village Offices Abolition Act and dismissed the petitions. Since the time limit of one year for making
applications for relief by the Village Officers expired long back and in view of the fact that there have
been repeated representa tions from Village Officers for extending the time limit, it was considered
necessary to amend the Act, so as to provide an opportunity to the Village Officers to obtain relief. In
view of the urgency and as the Legislature was not in session, an Ordinance was promulgated. The
Act is intended to replace the Ordinance.
(Published in Karnataka Gazette (Extraordinary) Part IV-2A dated 2nd December 1967 as No.
271 at page. 3–4.)
III
Amending Act 13 of 1978. —The lands granted to hereditary village officers whose offices were
abolished were regranted to them so that they may continue to enjoy the land. But it transpired that in
most cases such lands have been disposed off by the ex -village officer and that he was left with no
land to earn out his livelihood. It was therefore considered that such transfers be voided and the lands
restored to the ex -village officers. As the State Legislature was not in session the Karnataka Village
Offices (Amendment) Ordinance, 1975 was issued for the purpose.
The Act is to replace the said Ordinance. Transfers made with the permission of the State
Government or the co-operative societies and nationalised Banks etc., are how ever saved.
(Published in Karnataka Gazette (Extraordinary) Part IV-2A dated 2nd February 1976 as No.
635 at page. 4.)
IV
Amending Act 27 of 1984. —The enfranchised inam lands in the old Madras area, viz., Bellary
District and Kollegal Taluk of Mysore District were enfranchised (Freed from encumbrance) by the then
Government of Madras and they were transferable and heritable. Inam title deeds were also issued.
On account of the amendment of the Karnataka Village Officers Act, 1961 (Act 14 of 1961) by Act
13 of 1978, the occupancy of lands regranted under the said Ac t become non-transferable unless the
previous sanction of the Deputy Commissioner was obtained on payment of an amount equal to
fifteen times the full assessment of the land. The Act did not distinguish between enfranchised inams
and other inams and thereby new restrictions were attracted to the transfer of enfranchised inam
lands. In view of the representations received, it is intended to suitably amend the Act in order to
mitigate the rigour of the restriction.
Hence the Act.

(Published in Karnataka Gazette (Extraordinary) Part IV-2A dated 22nd March 1984, as No.
181 at page. 3.)

V
Amending Act 47 of 1986.—The Karnataka Village Offices Abolition Act, 1961 prohibits transfer of
lands regranted under sub -section (1) of Section 5 for a period of 15 years from the date of
commencement of the Karnataka Village Offices Abolition (Amendment) Act, 1978, i.e., 7th August
1978 otherwise than by partition among members of the Hindu Joint Family or by a transfer in favour
of the State Government, a co -operative Society or a bank as security for loans granted for
improvement of such land or for acquiring cattle or agricultural implements for cultivation of such land.
It is considered necessary to enlarge the scope of sub -section (5) of section 5 of the said Act to
enable the Banks. Co -operative Societies and Government to advance crop loans on the security of
the lands regranted under the Act and to remove the difficulties in the way of the said regrantees
obtaining ―Crop Loans‖ advanced by the State Government. Co-operative Society or a Bank on the
security of such lands.
Hence the Act.
(Published in Karnataka Gazette (Extraordinary) Part IV-2A, dated 29th August 1986 as No.
662. at page. 3.)
VI
Amending Act 22 of 2000. - Note.- While repealing certain spent and obsolete laws certain
consequential amendments are made to certain Acts including this Act.
* * * *
VII
Amending Act 22 of 2003. -Sub-section (3) of section 5 and section 7A of the Karnataka Village
Offices Abolition Act, 1961 prohibits transfer of re-granted land within a period of 15 years
from the date of commencement of section 1 and section 7A of the Karnataka Village Offices
Abolition (Amendment) Act, 1978. They have come into force with effect from 7.8.1978. The fifteen
years period has already expired in the year 1993. Farmers are selling their land and thereby loosing
their lands which were granted to them by the Government earlier. Therefore, in order to safeguard
the interest of farmers it is considered necessary to amend the said Act to prohibit transfer of re-
granted land for a period of fifteen years from the date of re-grant made on or after the
commencement of the Karnataka Village Offices Abolition (Amendment) Act, 2003
Hence the Bill.
(Published in Karnataka Gazette (Extraordinary) Part IV-A, dated 9th May 2003 as No. 497 at page 13)

VIII

Amendment Act 23 of 2025 :- It is considered necessary further to amend the Karnataka Village
Offices Abolition Act, 1961 (Karnataka Act 14 of 1961) to substitute the reference of the provisions of the
Indian Penal Code, 1860 to respective provision in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Central Act 45 of
2023).
Hence, the Bill.
[L.A. Bill No.14 of 2025, File No. SAMVYASHAE 20 SHASANA 2025]
[Entry 18 of List II of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India.]
[Published in Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary No.213 in part-IVA dated:04.04.2025]

1[KARNATAKA ACT]1 No. 14 OF 1961
(First published in the 1[Karnataka Gazette]1 on the Twentieth day of July, 1961.)
THE 1[KARNATAKA]1 VILLAGE OFFICES ABOLITION ACT, 1961
(Received the assent of the President on the Eighth day of July, 1961.)
(As amended by Acts 8 of 1968, 13 of 1978, 27 of 1984, 47 of 1986 ,
22 of 2000, 22 of 2003 and 23 of 2025)
An Act to abolish Village Offices in the 1[State of Karnataka]1.
WHEREAS it is expedient in the public interest to abolish the village offices which were
held hereditarily before the commencement of the Constitution and the emoluments
appertaining thereto in the 1[State of Karnatak a]1 and to provide for matters consequential
and incidental thereto;
BE it enacted by the 1[Karnataka State] 1 Legislature in the Twelfth Year of the
Republic of India as follows:—
1. Adapted by the Karnataka Adaptations of Laws Order, 1973 w.e.f. 01.11.1973.
1. Short title, extent and commencement.— (1) This Act may be called the
1[Karnataka]1 Village Offices Abolition Act, 1961.
(2) It extends to the whole of the 1[State of Karnataka]1.
1. Adapted by the Karnataka Adaptations of Laws Order, 1973 w.e.f. 01.11.1973.
(3) It shall come into force on such 1[date]1 as the State Government may, by
notification, appoint.
1. Act has came into force on 01.02.1963 by notification. Text of the notification is at the end of the Act.
2. Definitions.— (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) ―appointed date‖ means the date appointed under sub-section (3) of section 1;
(b) ―authorised holder‖ means a person in whose favour a land granted or continued
in respect of, or annexed to, a village office by the State or a part thereof has been validly
alienated permanently, whether by sale, gift, partition or otherwise, under the existing law
relating to such village offices;
(c) ―Code‖ means,-
(i) in relation to the Mysore Area excluding Bellary District, the Mysore Land
Revenue Code, 1888;
(ii) in relation to the 1[Belgaum Area,]1 the Bombay Land Revenue Code,
1879;
(iii) in relation to the 1[Gulburga Area,]1 the Hyderabad Land Revenue Act,
1317-F;
(iv) in relation to the Coorg District, the Coorg Land and Revenue Regulation,
1899;
(v) in relation to the 1[Madras Area] 1 and Bellary District, that corresponding
revenue law or standing orders, in force in such area;
1. Adapted by the Karnataka Adaptations of Laws Order, 1973 w.e.f. 01.11.1973.
(d) ―Deputy Commissioner‖ means an officer appointed by the State Government in
respect of any area to perform the functions and exercise the powers of the Deputy

Commissioner under this Act, and where no such officer is appointed, the Deputy
Commissioner of the District;
(e) ―emoluments‖ means,-
(i) lands,
(ii) assignments of revenue payable in respect of lands,
(iii) fees in money or agricultural produce,
(iv) money salaries and all other kinds of remuneration, granted or continued in
respect of, or annexed to, any village office, by the State;
1[(ea) ‗enfranchised inam‘ means an inam of which there is proof of enfrachisement as
required under the Madras Enfranchised Inams Act, 1862 (Madras Act IV of 1862).]1
1. Inserted by Act 27 of 1984 w.e.f. 04.05.1984.
(f) ―existing law relating to a village office‖ includes any enactment, ordinance, rule,
bye-law, regulation, order, notification, firman, hukum, vat hukum or any other instrument or
any custom or usage having the force of law, relating to a village office, wh ich may be in
force immediately before the appointed date;
(g) ―holder of a village office‖ or ―holder‖ means a person having an interest in a
village office under an existing law relating to such office:
Provided that where any village office has been entered in a register or record under
an existing law relating to such village office, as held by the whole body of persons having
interest in the village office, the whole of such body shall be deemed to be the holder;
(h) ―inferior village office‖ means every villa ge office of lower degree than that of a
Patel or Village Accountant;
(i) ―notification‖ means a notification published in the Official Gazette;
(j) ―officiator‖ means the person actually performing the duties of a village office,
whether he be a person having right to perform the duties of such office or a substitute
appointed under the existing law relating to such office;
(k) ―prescribed‖ means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(l) ―tenancy law‖ means,-
(i) in the Mysore Area, the Mysore Tenancy Act, 1952;
(ii) in the 1[Bombay Area] 1, the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act,
1948;
(iii) in the 1[Hyderabad Area]1, the Hyderabad Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act,
1950;
(iv) in the 1[Madras Area] 1, the Madras Cultivating Tenants Protection Act, 1955,
and the Madras Cultivating Tenants (Payment of Fair Rent) Act, 1956;
(v) in the Coorg District, the Coorg Tenants Act 1957;
1. Adapted by the Karnataka Adaptations of Laws Order, 1973 w.e.f. 01.11.1973.
(m) ―unauthorised holder‖ means a person in possession of a land granted or
continued in respect of or annexed to a village office by the State without any right, or
under any lease, mortgage, sale, gift or any other kind of alienation thereof, which is null
and void under the existing law, relating to such village office;

(n) ―village office‖ means every village office, to which emoluments have been
attached and which was held hereditarily before the commencement of the Constitution
under an existing law relating to a village office, for the performance of duties connected with
the administration or collection of the revenue or with the maintenance of order or with the
settlement of boundaries or other matter of civil administration of a village, whether the
services originally appertaining to the office continue or have ceased to be performed or
demanded and by whatsoever designation the office may be locally known.
(2) The other words and expressions used but not defined in this Act, shall have the
meaning assigned to them in the Code.
3. Powers of Deputy Commissioner to decide certain questions and appeals.—
(1) If any question arises,-
(a) whether any land was granted or continued in respect of or annexed to a village
office by the State; or
(b) whether any person is a holder of a village office; or
(c) whether any person is an authorised holder; or
(d) whether any person is an unauthorised holder,
-the Deputy Commissioner shall, after giving the party affected an opportunity to be heard
and after holding an enquiry in the prescribed manner decide the question.
(2) Any person aggrieved by such decision may file an appea l to the District Judge of the
district within ninety days of such decision and the decision of the District Judge on such
appeal shall be final. 1[The provisions of sections 4, 5, 12 and 14 of the Limitation Act, 1963
(Central Act 36 of 1963) shall be applicable to such appeal.]1
1. Inserted by Act 13 of 1978 w.e.f. 07.08.1978.
4. Abolition of village offices together with incidents thereof. —Notwithstanding
anything in any usage, custom, settlement, grant, agreement, sanad, or in any decree or
order of a Court, or in an existing law relating to village offices, with effect on and from the
appointed date,—
(1) all village offices shall be and are hereby abolished;
(2) all incidents (including the right to hold office and the emoluments attached thereto,
the right to levy customary fees or prequisites in money or in kind and the liability to render
service) appertaining to the said village offices shall be and are hereby extinguished;
(3) subject to the provisions of section 5, section 6 and section 7, all land granted o r
continued in respect of or annexed to a village office by the State shall be and is hereby
resumed, and shall be subject to the payment of land revenue under the provisions of the
Code and the rules and orders made thereunder as if it were an unalienated land or ryotwari
land.
5. Re-grant of land resumed under section 4 to the holder of the village office.—
(1) A land resumed under clause (3) of section 4 shall, in cases not falling under section
6 and section 7, be granted to the person who was the holder of the village office
immediately prior to the appointed date (hereinafter referred to as the holder) on payment, by
or on behalf of such holder to the State Government, of the occupancy price equal to
three times in the case of holders of inferior village of fice and six times in the case of holders
of other village offices, the amount of the full assessment of such land within the prescribed

period and in the prescribed manner and the holder shall be deemed to be an occupant or
holder of a ryotwari patta with in the meaning of the Code in respect of such land and shall
primarily be liable to pay land revenue to the State Government from the appointed date in
accordance with the provisions of the Code and the rules and orders made thereunder; and
all the provisions of the Code and the rules and orders relating to unalienated land or ryotwari
land shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, apply to the said land:
Provided that in respect of land which was not assigned under an existing law relating to
the village office as the remunerati on of the village office, an occupancy price equal to the
amount of the full assessment of such land in the case of holders of inferior village offices
and three times such amount in the case of holders of other village offices, shall be paid by
or on behalf of the holder for its re-grant.
(2) If there is a failure to pay the occupancy price under sub -section (1) within the
prescribed period and in the prescribed manner, the holder shall be deemed to be
unauthorisedly occupying the land and shall be liable to b e summarily evicted therefrom by
the Deputy Commissioner in accordance with the provisions of the Code.
(3) The occupancy or the ryotwari patta of the land, as the case may be, re -granted under
sub-section (1) shall not be transferable otherwise than by partit ion among members of
Hindu Joint Family 1[for a period of fifteen years from the date of re -grant made on or after
the date of commencement of the Karnataka Village Offices Abolition (Amendment) Act,
2003]1.
2[Provided that such occupancy or the ryotwari p atta in respect of land granted to the
holder of a village office in an enfranchised inam shall be transferrable with the previous
sanction of the Deputy Commissioner which shall be granted on payment of an amount equal
to fifteen times the amount of full assessment of the land.]2
1. Substituted by Act 22 of 2003 w.e.f. 09.05.2003.
2. Inserted by Act 27 of 1984 w.e.f. 04.05.1984
1[(4) Any transfer of land in contravention of sub -section (3) shall be null and void and the
land so transferred shall, as penalty, be forfeited to and vest in the State Government free
from all encumbrances and any person in possession thereof shall be summarily evicted
therefrom by the Deputy Commissioner and the land shall be disposed of in accordance with
the law applicable to the disposal of unoccupied unalienated lands:
Provided that if the person who has transferred the land in contravention of sub - section
(3) is not alive, while disposing of such land preference shall be given to the heirs of such
person.
Explanation.—For removal of doubts it is hereby declared that in sub -section (3), and in
this sub-section transfer includes creation of a lease.
(5) Nothing in sub-section (3) shall apply to transfer in favour of the State Government, a
co-operative society and a bank as security for loans granted for improvements of such land
2[or for raising crops on such land] 2 or for buying cattle or agricultural implements for the
cultivation of such land .
Explanation.—‗bank‘ means,—
(i) a banking company as defined in the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (Central Act 10
of 1949);

(ii) the State Bank of India constituted under the State Bank of India Act, 1955 (Central
Act 23 of 1955);
(iii) a subsidiary bank as defined in the State Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks) Act, 1959
(Central Act 38 of 1959);
(iv) a corresponding new bank constituted under the Banking Companies (Acquisition
and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 (Central Act 5 of 1970);
(v) a regional rural bank constituted under the Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976 (Central
Act 21 of 1976);
(vi) the Agricultur al Refinance and Development Corporation constituted under the
Agricultural Refinance and Development Corporation Act, 1963 (Central Act 10 of
1963);
(vii) the Agricultural Finance Corporation Limited, a company incorporated under the
Companies Act, 1956 (Central Act 1 of 1956).
(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, any
agreement for transfer of land resumed under clause (3) of section 4, entered into prior to
regrant thereof under sub -section (1), shall be null and void and a ny person in possession
thereof in furtherance of such agreement shall be summarily evicted therefrom by the Deputy
Commissioner.]1
1. Sub-sections (4) to (6) inserted by Act 13 of 1978 w.e.f. 01.02.1963.
2. Inserted by Act 47 of 1986 w.e.f. 25.11.1986.
6. Re-grant of land resumed under section 4 to authorised holders.—Where any land
resumed under clause (3) of section 4 is held by an authorised holder, it shall be regranted to
the authorised holder on the payment by him to the State Government of the occupa ncy
price equal to six times the full assessment of the land and subject to the conditions and
consequences mentioned in section 5; and all the provisions of section 5 shall mutatis
mutandis apply in relation to the re -grant of the land under this section to the authorised
holder as if he were the holder of the village office.
1[7. Eviction of unauthorised holders etc. —(1) Where any land resumed under clause
(3) of section 4 is in the possession of an unauthorised holder such unauthorised holder shall
be summarily evicted therefrom and the land shall be taken possession of by the Deputy
Commissioner in accordance with law:
Provided that no such summary eviction shall be made except after giving the person
affected a reasonable opportunity of making representation.
(2) Any order of eviction passed under sub -section (1) shall be final and shall not be
questioned in any court of law and no injunction shall be granted by any court in respect of
any proceeding taken or about to be taken by the Deput y Commissioner in pursuance of the
power conferred by sub-section (1).
(3) The land from which an unauthorised holder is evicted under sub-section (1) shall,-
(a) if it was granted or continued in respect of or annexed to an inferior village office be
regranted to the holder of such village office; and
(b) in other cases be disposed of inaccordance with the law applicable to the disposal of
unoccupied unalienated lands]1
1. Substituted by Act 13 of 1978 w.e.f. 24.12.1975.

1[7A. Restriction on transfer etc. —(1) No person shall transfer or acquire by transfer
2[for a period of fifteen years from the date of re -grant made on or after the date of
commencement of the Karnataka Village Offices Abolition (Amendment) Act, 2003] 2 any
land disposed or regranted under sub -section (4) of section 5 or sub -section (3) of section 7
and any transfer of such land in contravention thereof shall be null and void. The land so
transferred shall vest in the State Government free from all encumbrances. The provisions of
sub-section (5) of section 5 shall mutatis mutandis apply to transfer of such land.
(2) Any person who acquires by transfer such land in contravention of sub -section (1)
shall on conviction be punished with imprisonment which may extend to six months.]1
1. Inserted by Act 13 of 1978 w.e.f. 07.08.1978
2. Substituted by Act 22 of 2003 w.e.f. 9.5.2003..
8. Application of Tenancy Law. —If any land granted or continued in respect of or
annexed to a village office by the State has been lawfully leased and such lease is subsisting
on the appointed date, the provisions of the tenancy law for the time being in force in that
area in which the land is situate shall apply to the said lease and the rights and liabilities of
the person to whom such land is granted under sections 5, 6 or 7 and his tenant or tenants
shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be governed by the provisions of the said tenancy
law.
Explanation.—For the purpose of this section, the expression ―land‖ shall have the same
meaning as assigned to it in the tenancy law referred to above.
9. Relief to holder of a village office. —(1) A holder of a village office abolished under
this Act, shall be paid in such manner and in such installments as may be prescribed,—
(i) in the case of a holder of an inferior village office, an amount equal to th e aggregate
of the amounts calculated in the manner provided in the following clauses (a),
(b) and (c);
(ii) in the case of a holder of any other village office, an amount equal to the aggregate
of the amounts calculated in the manner provided in the following clauses (a) and (b).-
(a) where the full or a portion of the assessment of the land granted or continued in
respect of or annexed to, any village office by the State was assigned towards the
emoluments of the holder of such officer, six times the amount equal to the difference
between the amount of such assessment or portion and the amount of quit r ent or jodi, if any
payable to the State Government by the holder;
(b) six times the amount equal to the annual cash allowance or other annual
payment of money (not being the rent of land resumed under clause ( b) of Section 12 of the
Bombay Hereditary Offices Act, 1874 Bombay Act III of 1874), or a like provision under any
existing law relating to village offices) made by the State Government to the holder under the
existing law relating to village offices:
Provided that where the land granted or continued in respect or annexed to a village office
is not less than three acres in extent, the sum payable shall be three times the amount
specified in this clause:
Provided further that in determining the amount of annual cash allowance or other annual
payment of mone y made by the State Government under this clause, the enhancement in
such allowance or money ordered.—

(i) in the Mysore Area, excluding the Bellary District, by G.O. No. R. 23 -77/L.R. 69- 42-
17, dated 18th October 1942, G.O. No. R. 3919 -4007/L.R. 155 -47, date d 24th
September 1947 and G.O. No. RDF 111 VOA 57, dated 8th June 1957;
(ii) in the Bombay Area, by G.O. No. G.R.R.D. No. 9790/33, dated 24th May 1944,
G.R.R.D. No. 5741/45, dated 3rd July 1948 and G.O. R.D. No. RDF 111 VOA
57, dated 8th June 1957;
(iii) in the Hyderabad Area, by G.O. No. (2), dated 8th October 1949, G.O. No. 2, dated
22nd December 1949 and G.O. No. RDF 111 VOA 57, dated 8th June 1957;
(iv) in the Madras Area and Bellary District, by G.O. No. Mis. 877/Rev., dated 27th April
1945, G.O. No. 2108, dated 27th September 1946, and G.O. No. RDF 111 VOA 57,
dated 8th June 1957,
-shall be excluded;
(c) six times the cash value of the average of the customary fees or prequisites in
money or in kind levied or leviable by the holder of the inferior village office under the existing
law relating to such office during the three years immediately preceding the appointed date;
and such cash value shall be determined in the prescribed manner and shall not exceed the
amount which under the existing law could on default of payment in kind, be recovered.
Provided that when the land granted or continued in respect of or annexed to the inferior
village office is not less than three acres in extent, the sum payable shall be three times the
cash value not exceeding the maximum specified in this clause.
1[(2) (i) As soon as may be after the commencement of the 2[Karnataka]2 Village Offices
Abolition (Amendment) Act, 1967, the Deputy Commissioner shall determine in accordance
with such of the provisions of sub -section (1) as may be applicable to any holder of a village
office, the amount payable in respect of the office which has been abolished.
(ii) A holder of a village office entitled to payment under sub -section (1) may, within
such time as may be prescribed or such further time a s the Deputy Commissioner may in his
discretion allow, apply in writing to the Deputy Commissioner for a copy of the data on the
basis of which he proposes to determine the amount payable under sub - section (1). On
receipt of such application, the Deputy Commissioner shall furnish the data aforesaid to the
applicant and he shall also before passing any order under clause (i), give the applicant
reasonable opportunity of making his representation in regard thereto, in writing or orally.
(iii) A copy of every orde r passed under clause (i) shall be communicated to the
holder of the village office concerned.]1
1. Substituted by Act 8 of 1968 w.e.f. 12.09.1967.
2. Adapted by the Karnataka Adaptations of Laws Order, 1973 w.e.f. 01.11.1973.
(3) Any person aggrieved by the order of the Deputy Commissioner under sub-section (2)
may within sixty days from the date of the order appeal to the Divisional Commissioner
and the decision of the Divisional Commissioner on such appeal, shall be final.
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in su b-section (1), a holder of a village office
abolished under this Act shall not be entitled to any payment under this section, if he is
appointed to any stipendiary post in connection with the affairs of the 1[State of Karnataka]1.
1. Adapted by the Karnataka Adaptations of Laws Order, 1973 w.e.f. 01.11.1973.

10. Inquiries and proceedings to be judicial proceedings. —All inquiries and
proceedings before the Deputy Commissioner under this Act shall be deemed to be judicial
proceedings within the meaning of 1[sections 229, 257 and 268 of the Bharatiya Nyaya
Sanhita 2023 (Central Act 45 of 2023).]1
1. Substituted by Act 23 of 2025 w.e.f. 04.04.2025.
11. Rules.—(1) The State Government may, subject to the condition of previous
publication, by notification, make rules for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this
Act.
(2) Every rule made under this section shall be laid as soon as may be after it is made,
before each House of the State Legislature while it is in session for a total period of thirty
days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if,
before the expiry of the session in which it is so laid or the sessions immediately following,
both Houses agree in making any modification in any rule or both Houses agree that the
rules should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or
be of no effect, as the case may be; so however that any such modification or annulment
shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.
12. Repeal and savings. —(1) The enactments specified in Schedule I and any existing
law relating to a village office in force in any area of the 1[State of Karnataka] 1 so far as they
apply to village offices or to emolument attached to such offices are hereby repealed.
1. Adapted by the Karnataka Adaptations of Laws Order, 1973 w.e.f. 01.11.1973.
1[x x x]1
(3) Nothing in sub-sections (1) 1[x x x]1 shall be deemed to affect—
1. Omitted by Act 22 of 2000 w.e.f. 29.11.2000.
(a) any obligation or liability already incurred by the holder of a village office or other
person before the appointed date;
(b) any proceeding or remedy in respect of such obligation or liability and any such
proceeding may be continued or any such remedy may be enforced as if this Act had not
been passed.

SCHEDULE I
Section 12(1)
Year No. Short title Extenent of
repeal

1908 IV The 1[Karnataka]1 Village Offices Act, 1908. The whole
1895 III The Madras Hereditary Village Offices Act, 1895. Do
1874 III The Bombay Hereditary Offices Act, 1874. Do
1886 V The Bombay Hereditary Offices (Amendment)
Act, 1886. Do
1894 II The Madras Proprietory Estates village Service
Act, 1894. Do
1802
Do
XX I XThe Madras Karnams Regulation, 1802.
1. Adapted by the Karnataka Adaptations of Laws Order, 1973 w.e.f. 01.11.1973.

1[SCHEDULE II x x x ]1
1. Omitted by Act 22 of 2000 w.e.f. 29.11.2000.

NOTIFICATION

Bangalore dated 9th January 1968, [No.RD 827 GVO 62]
(Pushya 19, Saka Era 1884).
In exercise of the powers conferred by sub -section (3) of section 1of the Mysore Village
Offices Abolition Act, 1961 (Mysore Act 14 of 1961), the Government of Mysore hereby appoints the
First day of February 1963 as the date on which the said Act shall come into force.
By Order and in the name f the Governor of Karnataka, (P.
NAGESHA RAO)
Under Secretary to Government, Revenue
Department.

(Published in the Karnataka Gazette Part IV-2C (ii) dated 17th January, 1963.)

* * * *

KARNATAKA ACT NO.23 OF 2025
(First Published in the Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary on the 4th day of April, 2025)

THE KARNATAKA VILLAGE OFFICES ABOLITION (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2025
(Received the assent of the Governor on the 3rd day of April, 2025)

An Act further to amend the Karnataka Village Offices Abolition Act, 1961.
Whereas it is expedient further to amend the Karnataka Village Offices Abolition
Act, 1961 (Karnataka Act 14 of 1961) for the purposes hereinafter appearing;
Be it enacted by the Karnataka State Legislature in the Seventy sixth year of the
Republic of India as follows:-

1. Short title and commencement.– (1) This Act may be called the Karnataka
Village Offices Abolition (Amendment) Act, 2025.
(2) It shall come into force at once.

2. Amendment of section 10. - In the the Karnataka Village Offices Abolition Act,
1961 (Karnataka Act 14 of 1961) , in section 10, for the words and figures “sections
193, 219 and 229 of the Indian Penal Code” the words, brackets and figures “sections
229, 257 and 268 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanh ita 2023 (Central Act 45 of 2023)”
shall be substituted.

By Order and in the name of
the Governor of Karnataka,

G. SRIDHAR
Secretary to Government
Department of Parliamentary
Affairs and Legislation

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