According to historical records, the first large-scale documented land sales in India occurred during the British colonial period, specifically with the introduction of the “Permanent Settlement” system by Lord Cornwallis in 1793, where land ownership was established and “zamindars” (landlords) were recognized as the primary landowners, allowing them to buy and sell land, although the practice of land gifting existed in ancient India as well.
Key points about land sales in British India:
System:
The Permanent Settlement system, introduced in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, established a fixed land revenue that zamindars were responsible for paying to the British East India Company.
Land ownership:
Under this system, zamindars were considered the landowners and could sell their land, although the actual cultivators had limited rights.
Impact:
This system led to exploitation of farmers by zamindars due to high rents, contributing to social and economic disparities.
The Zamindari system was a land revenue system that created a class of revenue collectors called Zamindars. 
The Zamindars were granted ownership of the land, but were also responsible for collecting taxes from the peasants who worked on the land. 
The Zamindars were required to pay a fixed amount of revenue to the British government every year. 
The Zamindars were considered the owners of the land, while the cultivators were considered tenants.