139. Procedure for determination of excess land.-

(1) On receipt of any return under section 137 or information under section 138 or otherwise, the competent authority shall, after giving the persons affected an opportunity of being heard, hold an inquiry in such manner as may be prescribed, and having regard to the provisions of section 140 and section 141 and of any rules that may be made in this behalf, it shall determine-

(a) the total area of land held by each person representing the family;

(b) the specific parcels of land which he may retain;

(c) the land held by him in excess of the ceiling limit;

(d) whether such excess land is held by him as a landowner or as a tenant or as a mortgage with possession;

(e) the excess land in respect of which the tenant or the mortgagee with possession may acquire the rights of the landowner of the mortgagor, as the case may be;

(f) the excess land which may be restored to a landowner or a mortgagor;

(g) the excess land which shall vest in the Government; and

(h) such other matters as may be prescribed.

(2) For the purposes of determining the excess land under this section, any land transferred at any time during the period between the 15th day of January, 1959 and the commencement of this Act shall, notwithstanding such transfer, be deemed to be held by the transferor.

(3) The competent authority shall prepare a list in the prescribed form containing the particulars determined by it under sub-section (1) and shall cause every such list to be published in the Official Gazette and also in such other manner as may be prescribed.