Karnataka Government Amends Land Law to Modernize Coorg's Unique System
The Karnataka government has taken a significant step to update an age-old land record system in the picturesque Coorg region. Governor Thawarchand Gehlot gave his assent to the Karnataka Land Revenue (Second Amendment) Act, 2025 on January 7. The state government issued a gazette notification the following day.
This amendment specifically targets the unique Jamma Bane land holdings in Coorg, which is now part of Kodagu district. For generations, families in this region have passed down land grants from the time of the British and Kodava kings. However, the records have persistently contained the names of original grantees, known as pattedars, even when the land was bequeathed to new generations.
Understanding Jamma Bane Lands
The Jamma Bane tenure represents a distinct form of land holding prevalent in Kodagu district. It differs markedly from other classes of land holdings in the state. The word Jamma itself means hereditary. These lands were originally granted by erstwhile kings of Coorg and the British between 1600 and 1800 to local communities in return for military service.
Jamma lands comprise both wetlands used for paddy cultivation and forested highlands. Many of these highlands have transformed into the now-famous coffee estates of Coorg. The ownership of Jamma Bane land is registered in the name of the original pattedar from a family. Over generations, the names of new owners are added alongside the name of the pattedar, but the land ownership name could not be formally changed to reflect the new owners.
The absence of officially recognized land ownership documents created substantial problems for current owners. They faced difficulties when trying to buy or sell land or secure bank loans. This situation persisted despite the Coorg Land Revenue and Regulations Act, 1899, which governed land ownership until the introduction of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964. Some provisions of the 1899 Act continued in Kodagu even after 1964.
Historical Context and Legal Recognition
Congress MLA A S Ponnana highlighted the issue during a debate in the Karnataka Assembly. He noted that the name of the family head continues in land records even after death and decades of ownership changes. This tradition continued despite the lack of specific provisions in the Karnataka Land Revenue Act.
The ownership rights of Kodagu people over Jamma Bane lands received judicial recognition in 1993. A full bench of the Karnataka High Court upheld these rights in the case of Chekkera Poovaiah vs State of Karnataka. In 2024, the Karnataka High Court further upheld the Karnataka Land Revenue (Third Amendment) Act, 2011. This act granted full ownership rights over Jamma Bane lands in Kodagu to Kodava families.
The court ruled that the amendment achieved the grant of full ownership to the Kodava family, including all division holders. This decision came in a plea where arguments were made that the 2011 amendments would violate the land traditions and customs of the Kodava community.
Reasons for the New Amendment
The government introduced the Karnataka Land Revenue (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025 to address ongoing complications. Historically, these lands have been held and enjoyed based on customary rights by members of joint families, often without clear entries in the Record of Rights. Over time, complications arose in maintaining accurate records of ownership, inheritance, survivorship, and alienations pertaining to Jamma Bane holdings.
The absence of explicit provisions in the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964, to record the rights of joint family members in such holdings led to difficulties. These difficulties included problems with mutation, registration, inheritance, and maintenance of revenue records. This situation resulted in numerous disputes regarding succession, alienation, and privileges attached to Jamma Bane lands.
The government stated it became necessary to provide statutory recognition of the peculiar nature of Jamma Bane tenure in Kodagu District. The aim is to ensure that the rights of all members of a joint family are duly recorded in the mutation and revenue registers.
What the New Amendment Does
The new amendment essentially empowers tahsildars in Kodagu to make necessary corrections in land records. These corrections will bring the records into conformity with the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964, for the Record of Rights. The Record of Rights contains the names of persons who are holders, occupants, owners, mortgagees, landlords, or tenants of the land.
State Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda stated during the assembly debate that local tahsildars would hold adalats to address objections before land records are modernized and finalized. This process will give proper land rights to current owners.
The amendment adds a new subsection to Section 127 of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964. This subsection authorizes tahsildars of Kodagu District to make necessary corrections or deletions in land records pertaining to specific entries. These corrections aim to bring the records into conformity with the provisions of the act. The bill includes a caveat that any order passed by the tahsildar under this subsection shall be appealable as per the prescribed procedure.
This legislative change represents a crucial modernization effort for Coorg's land records. It addresses generations of documentation issues while respecting the region's unique historical land tenure system.
