Under the Permanent Settlement, 1793, the zamindars were required to issue pattas to the farmers which were not issued by many of the zamindars. The reason was

Under the Permanent Settlement zamindars were made the proprietors/intermediaries and had strong incentives to extract surplus from raiyats; they often exploited peasants rather than secure their rights by issuing pattas [1]. The zamindar’s role as the contracted revenue-collector (paying a fixed sum to the Company and keeping the remainder) encouraged withholding legal documentation that might empower tenants or limit zamindari control [2]. Contemporary accounts note that the obligation to issue pattas was poorly implemented: many zamindars simply did not provide them and enforcement was inconsistent, reflecting weak local oversight and ineffective official checks on zamindari behaviour . Hence the principal reason was lack of effective official supervision over zamindars.

Sources

1. [1] Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 10: Land Reforms in India > 1. Zamindari System (Permanent Settlement) > p. 337
2. [2] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 9: COLONIALISM AND THE COUNTRYSIDE > p. 229