Tamil Nadu Cultivating Tenants (Protection From Eviction) Act 1983
Tenant farming has long played a crucial role in Tamil Nadu’s agrarian economy. Yet, tenant farmers—often known as cultivating tenants—have historically faced insecurity, including arbitrary eviction and lack of bargaining power. The Tamil Nadu Cultivating Tenants (Protection From Eviction) Act, 1983 was enacted to address these concerns. This article delves into the historical background, objectives, legal provisions, practical implications, and advice for both tenants and legal practitioners navigating Tamil Nadu’s land tenancy laws. 🕰️ Historical Context Before independence, landholding in Tamil Nadu was dominated by large zamindari estates and absentee landlords. Cultivating tenants had little to no legal protection and could be evicted at will. The first major legal effort to protect them was the Madras Cultivating Tenants Protection Act, 1955 , which sought to secure tenancy rights by limiting eviction powers. However, over time, landlords found legal loopholes, and...