§ Mr. REESTo ask the Secretary of State for India whether he has had under his notice the terms upon which the Madras Government is enfranchising the hereditary inam lands of the village officers in zemindari villages; whether he is aware that such terms are onerous compared with those upon which the inam lands in Government villages were enfranchised; and whether, in view of the immemorial service of the owners and their ancestors in respect of the former lands, he will inquire into the matter and take such action as may appear to him to be just and proper in the circumstances.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) I have seen correspondence on the subject between the Government of Madras and the Board of Revenue. The Government of Madras and the Board came to the conclusion that there was nothing harsh or inequitable in fixing the quit-rents of enfranchised village service inams in zemindari villages at full assessment rates, and that the rule limiting the quit-rent to five-eighths of the full assessment in ryotwari tracts was not applicable to zemindari tracts, and would, if extended to them, occasion a loss of revenue to the village service fund of the district, which it could not well afford. Madras Act II. of 1894 gives the Local Government full authority to make rules for the fixation of these quit-rents. As at present advised, I see no reason for interfering with the discretion of the Government of Madras in the matter.