Draft:Demarcation (survey)

In India, land demarcation, also referred to as land measurement or simply demarcation, is a process in the revenue system for legally identifying the boundaries of a specific parcel of land. This process is often used to determine the clarity in land ownership, resolving boundary disputes between entities, and maintaining accurate land records. It is typically carried out by a land revenue officer such as patwari or tehsildar in accordance with the legal guidelines established in the land revenue laws of the respective states.

Process

The process of land demarcation in India is guided by established procedures. When a boundary is disputed, the demarcation begins by referencing musavi (survey map), which was prepared during the last settlement or revision. Modern tools like GPS and electronic total stations (ETS) are often used to enhance precision. For maps based on the triangulation system, the land is demarcated with reference to three fixed points, known as "chandas", which remains undisturbed since the previous settlement. These points serve as the foundation for the measurement, and statements from the involved parties confirming their acceptance are recorded before the work begins.

If the parties cannot agree on fixed points, the demarcator independently identifies suitable reference points using the musavi. These points are measured and compared with the distances recorded on the map. Once the measurements align, the land is demarcated accordingly.

In cases of minor disputes where most of the boundary remains undisturbed, the process involves setting perpendiculars from field diagonals or drawing curves as depicted in the survey map. When only two fixed points are available, a third point is established by forming a triangle to match the recorded measurements from the both sides.

In situations where only one fixed point exists, typically a corner shared by multiple fields, its accuracy is verified by measuring the adjoining fields. If these measurements correspond with the musavi, the point is deemed reliable and used as the starting reference for demarcation.