Walk through any village in Andhra Pradesh and you will meet families whose land, as enjoyed on the ground, does not match what the old village accounts say. The 10(1) Adangal may show one extent; the Record of Rights (R.O.R.) may show another; and what the family actually cultivates or holds may be a third figure altogether. This mismatch is common, and it is not always anybody's fault — old entries were written long ago, boundaries have shifted, and survey measurements from decades past were never updated. The question that naturally follows is: when the recorded extent and the ground position differ, what is to be done? The Commissioner of Survey, Settlements & Land Records (CSS & LR) has answered this in a short and practical clarification.
%20Adangal%20and%20ROR%20-%20AP%20Land%20Records.png "Recorded Extent vs Actual Extent in 10(1) Adangal and ROR - AP Land Records")
The Situation That Was Raised
The point was placed before the Commissioner in plain terms:
- In some cases, the extent recorded in the village account — namely the 10(1) Adangal and the R.O.R. — is different from the actual extent being enjoyed on the ground.
- The question: what is to be done in such cases?
Anyone who has dealt with village land records will recognise the situation. The 10(1 Adangal is the cultivation account maintained at the village level, recording the extent, the nature of the land and how it is being used. The R.O.R. is the record of rights — the document that shows who holds what. When these two records disagree with each other, or when both disagree with what is actually possessed on the ground, confusion follows: which figure is to be treated as correct? The clarification answers this directly.
The Clarification in Brief
The clarification is short and direct: the actual extent under physical possession should be recorded in the Record of Rights, after measurement.
| Question | Where the extent recorded in the village account (10(1) Adangal and R.O.R.) differs from the actual extent enjoyed on the ground, what is to be done? |
|---|---|
| Answer | The actual extent under physical possession should be recorded in the Record of Rights after measurement. |
| Key ideas | Actual extent · physical possession · measurement · Record of Rights |
What the Clarification Means in Practice
The sentence packs three ideas into a very small space. Read together, they describe the approach the revenue authority is expected to take when the record and the ground do not agree.
- The starting point is the land actually under physical possession. The record should reflect the extent a person is genuinely enjoying on the ground, rather than the old entry that may have been carried forward in error or simply grown stale with time. The person in possession is, in effect, the reference point for correcting the record.
- The correction must follow measurement. The change is not to be made on mere assertion, or on the strength of one side's claim alone. The land is to be measured, and it is the measured extent that finds its way into the record. Measurement is the safeguard that protects the process from arbitrary or one-sided correction.
- The correction is entered in the Record of Rights. Once the measurement is done, the actual extent under possession is recorded in the R.O.R. — the record of rights — so that the official record and the ground position are brought back into agreement.
Put simply: measure first, then record what is actually possessed. The object is to make the R.O.R. speak the truth of the ground.
Why Measurement Comes First
The order of the two steps is not accidental. If the record were corrected on the basis of statements alone, every dispute over extent would turn into a contest of assertions, with the person who shouts loudest or files first gaining the advantage. Measurement replaces assertion with a physical, verifiable fact. It gives both the landholder and the revenue authority a common reference point — the measured extent — and it is on that basis that the Record of Rights is updated. This is why the clarification is careful to say the recording is to be done after measurement, and not before.
In practice, this means that a person who finds the recorded extent different from what they actually possess should be prepared for the land to be measured. The measurement is not an obstacle; it is the very thing that makes the correction possible and durable.
An Important Caution
Read this clarification in context. It deals with how the revenue authority handles the difference between the recorded extent and the actual extent in the village records. It does not, by itself, decide questions of title or ownership, and it does not override other laws. Procedures have changed since 1989, and land records have since moved online. Before relying on this clarification for a sale, mortgage, partition, or court matter, get advice from a qualified lawyer.
Key Takeaways
- The 10(1) Adangal and the R.O.R. may sometimes show an extent that is different from what is actually enjoyed on the ground.
- The clarification says the actual extent under physical possession should be recorded in the Record of Rights.
- The recording is to be done after measurement — measurement is the basis for the correction.
- The purpose is to bring the official record into agreement with the actual position on the ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 10(1) Adangal?
The 10(1) Adangal is the village account that records the extent, the nature of the land and the cultivation details for each survey number in a village.
What is the R.O.R.?
The Record of Rights (R.O.R.) is the official record showing the rights a person holds in the land, including ownership and extent.
What if the recorded extent differs from the actual extent enjoyed?
According to this CSS & LR clarification, the actual extent under physical possession should be recorded in the Record of Rights after measurement.
Can the record be corrected without measurement?
No. The clarification specifically says the actual extent under possession is to be recorded after measurement. Measurement is what supports the correction and protects it from one-sided claims.
Does this clarification decide who owns the land?
No. It addresses how the extent is to be recorded when the record and the ground differ. Questions of title and ownership are governed by other laws and are decided separately.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is based on a 1989 clarification. Laws and procedures have since been amended, and land records have moved online. Please verify the current position with the revenue department or a qualified legal professional before acting.
Want the full picture of the Act? Read our complete guide.
AP Pattadar Pass Books Act 1971: Complete Guide
