State and Government in Ancient India c20.117

c20.117

The theory of the communal ownership of land, that was accepted in pre-historic times, has left its trace and influence only in two matters in the historic period. The state’s claim to eject the land owners, who do not pay the land-tax, is similar to that of the land-lord to evict a tenant, who does not pay the rent of his house. It clearly pre-supposes the state's ownership in land. The ownership in waste lands, forests and mines, which the state claimed in historic times, was originally based upon its claim to the entire land in the realm.