Section 152: Basic of rent-rates

(1) With a view to moving at fair and equitable rent-rates under Sec. 151, the Settlement Officer shall have regard to-

(a) the collections from rent and cesses in the nature of rent during the twenty years preceding the settlement, excluding such years as the State Govemmentmay, by notification in the ¹[Official Gazette] declare to be abnormal;

(b) the average of the prices of agricultural produce prevailing during the twenty years proceeding the settlement, excluding such years as the State Government may, by notification in the official Gazette], declare to be abnormal;

(c) the nature of crops grown and the average quantity of the produce;

(d) the value of such produce at the average price referred to in cl. (b);

(e) the expenses of cultivation and the cost to the cultivator of maintaining himself and his family;

(f) the area of land kept fallow each year out of each holding rotation followed and periods or rest;

(g) the frequency of remissions, suspensions and short collections;

(h) the rent-rates of the settlement, if any; and the share of procedure and commutation prices at which such rates were evolved; and

(i) the rent-rates, if any, sanctioned for similar classes of soil in the adjoining areas.

(2) The rent-rates to be evolved by the Settlement Officer shall represent such share not exceeding one-sixth of the value of produce referred to in clause (d) of sub-section (1), as may be in vague in the areas to which such rent-ratesshall relate.