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other things, the following declarations addressed to the 

 " Zemindars; independent Talukdars and other actual 

 proprietors of lands," viz., " It being the duty of the ruling 

 power to protect all classes of people, and more parti- 

 cularly those, who from their situation, are most helpless, tKe 

 Governor- General in Council will, whenever he may deem fit 

 and proper, enact such regulations as he may think necessary 

 for the protection and welfare of the dependent Talukdars, 

 ryots and other cultivators of the soil. No Zemindar, inde- 

 pendent Talukdar or other actual proprietor of land, shall be 

 entitled on this account to make any objection to the dis- 

 charge of the fixed assessment which they have respectively 

 agreed to pay." It was further declared " that implicit 

 obedience be shown by the proprietors to all regulations 

 which had been or might be prescribed by Government, con- 

 cerning the rents of the ryots and the collections from under- 

 tenants and agents of every description as well as from all 

 other persons whatever." In the Madras Presidency the 

 permanent settlement was made on the same principles as in 

 Bengal. The instructions issued to Collectors for the purpose 

 of carrying out the permanent settlement acknowledge that 

 " distinct from these (Zemindar's and Talukdar's^ claims are 

 the rights and privileges of the cultivating ryots, who, though 

 they have no positive property in the soil, have a right of 

 occupancy as long as they cultivate to the extent of their 

 usual means, and give to the Sircar or proprietor, whether 

 in money or kind, the accustomed portion of the produce." 

 Laws were to be made for the protection of the ryots and 

 under-tenants on the one hand, and for enabling Zemindars 

 on the other, to recover the rents due to them. In order 

 that the Courts might easily determine the rents payable, the 

 Zemindars were to enter into specific engagements, called 

 puttahs, with the ryots. The rents to be paid, by what- 

 ever rule or custom regulated, were to be given in specific 

 money amounts, wherever possible. In cases where the rate 

 only could be specified, such as when the rents were adjusted 

 upon a measurement of the lands after cultivation, or on 

 survey of the crop, or when they were made payable in kind, 

 the rate and terms of payment and proportion of the crop to 

 be delivered, with every other necessary condition, were to be 

 clearly specified. Every Zemindar was to be required to 

 prepare a form of a puttah or puttahs, adapted to the 

 circumstances and usages of his Zemindari and after obtain- 

 ing the Collector's signature to it in token of his approbation, 

 to register a copy of it in the Civil Court of the district 

 and deposit copies also in the principal Cutcherries of the 



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