Rapid Fire
Jamma Bane Lands of Kodagu
- 24 Jan 2026
- 3 min read
Karnataka has enacted the Karnataka Land Revenue (2nd Amendment) Act, 2025 to modernize the century-old land record system for the unique Jamma Bane lands in Kodagu (Coorg).
- This act seeks to resolve inheritance disputes over Jamma Bane lands by aligning their records with the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964, to ensure accurate documentation of current holders, occupants, and owners.
Jamma Bane Lands
- About: Jamma Bane is a unique, hereditary land tenure system prevalent in Kodagu district (Coorg). The lands were originally granted by the erstwhile kings of Coorg and the British (between 1600 and 1800) to local communities, primarily the Kodavas, in return for military service.
- Nature of the Land: These holdings comprise both wetlands (used for paddy cultivation) and forested highlands, which have largely been converted into the region's famous coffee estates.
- Traditional Record-Keeping: Ownership is registered in the name of the original grantee (pattedar), and despite being passed down over generations, new owners' names were only added alongside the pattedar's name, not as replacements.
- This system created serious legal and economic problems, including difficulties in sale, purchase, inheritance, mutation, and access to bank loans due to lack of clear title.
Kodagu (Coorg)
- About: Kodagu, popularly known as Coorg, is a scenic, high-altitude district in Karnataka's Western Ghats, globally famed as the 'Scotland of India' for its misty hills, and lush coffee plantations. It is the source of the River Kaveri (Talakaveri), a vital peninsular river.
- Economy: An agrarian economy centered on coffee production (a leading Indian region for Robusta/Arabica). Other major crops are pepper, cardamom, and rubber.
- Culture: Home to the Kodava people, known for their martial heritage, unique festivals (Kailpodh, Puthari), and distinctive attire and traditions.
| Read More: Land Revenue Systems in British India |
