Tenures of Kodava Land

There are over 35 types of land tenures that were in existence in Kodagu which are listed below.

Page author 

Biddanda Pratham Karumbaiah

Page author 

Biddanda Pratham Karumbaiah 

Tenures Of Kodagu

Bane

Forest Land Granted for the service of the holding of wet land to which it is allotted, to be held free of revenue by the cultivator for grazing and supply of leaf manure, firewood and timber required for the agricultural and domestic purpose of the cultivator, so long as he continues in Possession of the wet land.

Hitlu and Hitlumanedala

(Formerly known as unalienated Hitlumanedala) Forest land granted in connection with a wet land holding, to be held free of revenue by cultivator as a sight for houses, cattle sheds and garden so long as it is not separated from the wet land.

Privilege Bane

(Jamma, Sagu, Jodi, Jahagir, Umbli) (Formerlyknown as Unalienated Bane with ten acres free allowance) These are Bane Lands attached to wet lands and have been obtained by the Owners prior to 21/05/1886. Cultivation not exceeding ten acres is exempted from assessment.

Unprivileged Bane

(Jamma, Sagu, Jodi) (Formerly known as Unalienated Bane without Free allowance) These are bane lands obtained by purchaser or otherwise subsequent to 21/05/1886, having no assessment free area of 10 acres as in the case of Privileged Bane Lands.

Jamma

Wet land assessed at one half be normal (Sagu) rate of assessment. It was originally Tenure in consideration of Military services.

Jamma Bane

 Bane attached to Jamma wet land.

Jahagir

Wet land held free of all assessment and was granted by the Rajas and British Govt, in recognition of service rendered.

Jaghir Bane

Bane attached to Jahagir land.

Umbli

Wet land originally granted for services rendered and held subject to the payment of especially light assessment, which is not liable for periodical revision.

Umbli Bane

Bane attached to Umbli land.

Battamanya

These are lands granted by Rajas to Brahmins and their lineal descendants on condition of the performance of certain religious ceremonies.

Sarvamanya

These are lands granted for the benefit of religious institutions on condition of the performance of religious ceremonies. Land revenue in respect of these lands is fully relinquished.

Jodi Lands

Land of which one half of the revenue is assigned to a religious institution.

Matta Lands

These are lands given to Matta, for their maintenance, by the Rajas of Coorg. These lands are held free of all assessment.

Wantihola

These are inferior dry lands held under nominal rate of assessment.

Hola or Sarige

These are assessed dry lands.

Barike

Low lying Bane land capable of being brought under paddy cultivation is known as Barike and was assessed when brought under cultivation.

Sagu

(Formerly known as Paisari) The ordinary ryotwari tenure of land held on full assessment.

Manedala

(Formerly known as Bidkulas) These are house sites given to non-agriculturists. If cultivated the land is liable to assessment at ordinary rates.

Gaudumbali

These are lands held by village Patels and are inalienable.

Naimannu

These are lands held by Kulwadis i.e. village Watch Man. These are inalienable.

Alienated Bane

Land Originally granted as Bane but which has become subject to assessment owing to its separation from wet land for service of which it was formerly held.

Alienated Hitlu

(Formerly known as alienated Hitlumanedala) This refers to Hitlumanedala which has been alienated apart from the wet land to which it was originally attached. This is liable to assessment from the date of alienation and the owner has got a right to utilise timbers for bonafide purpose in the village only.

Redeemed 

The word Redeemed is used when timber has been paid for by the occupant of the land.

Un-redeemed

The word Un-Redeemed is used when timber has not been paid for by the occupant of the land.

Hullugavalu (Gomala)

Lands granted for grazing purpose and cannot be utilised for any other Purpose.

Jamma Maleys

Jamma Maleys are portions of reserve forest on the western Ghat in which the hereditary right of growing Cardamom on the indigenous system is recognised.

Leased Cardamom Maleys

These are Maleys leased from time to time by the Commissioner and the resultant revenue is credited to the Forest Department. The Lessee has no right to the land or timber. Originally these were called as Cardamom geni Maleys.

Cardamom Sagu 

These were lands granted for coffee cultivation, but as Coffee failed Cardamom has almost entirely replaced it. Originally these lands were called as Coffee Saguvali Maley.

Karavu  

These are lands 16 to 30 feet in width granted by the Rajas to protect the margins of wet lands from ingression of cattle, overhanging branches, etc. held free of assessment. This is attached to the wet land.

Garekad

This is a narrow strip of high land adjoining the wet land, not more than 16 feet in breadth. This is attached to the wet land.

Oorguppe 

Land set apart for collective Village site.

Uruduve 

These are communal lands i.e. village forests from where the ryots are allowed to graze their cattle and take firewood and timber for agricultural purposes.

Urambala and Mandhu 

These are communal village lands reserved for panchyat meeting and for dancing on festival occasion. The villagers have the right of grazing thereon.

Devarakadu 

These are sacred forests usually assigned to some particular deity or temple. The right to take firewood for temple worship, materials for constructing pandala and with special permission timbers for repairing the temple are allowed to the temple authorities and servants, while the villagers generally the right of way, water and for grazing.

Paisari

These are waste lands belonging to government.