Latest news with #LandReformsAct
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Core changes not necessary in Land Reforms Act, says Minister Rajan
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala does not face a situation that warrants core changes in the Land Reforms Act, including a ceiling on possession by an individual, Revenue Minister K Rajan has said. He was speaking after inaugurating the delegates' session at the Bhoomi national conclave organised by the revenue and survey departments here on Thursday. Land Reforms Act paved way for social change in the state. Timely amendments and changes have already been made to the act. Though several states enacted similar acts after Kerala, they lack the strength and scope of the Kerala legislation. The Land Reforms Act helped in effective land distribution that brought in social change. The act has provision to empower government to implement industrial, commercial and development activities. The minister said the ongoing Digital Resurvey in Kerala is a revolutionary step. It ensures accurate and transparent land documents which prevent border disputes. Unique Thandaper initiative was launched in villages where digital survey is complete. The Ente Bhoomi portal that provides services of revenue, Registration and Survey Departments is a commendable model in e-governance. Central Land Resources Secretary Manoj Joshi presided over. In his address Joshi said Kerala's digital land resurvey project was a model for the country. Kerala has a high population density and digital resurvey is progressing efficiently. The state is using a fool-proof software system for the survey. Though several states have launched digital resurvey, Kerala is noted for the accuracy of the process. Himachal Pradesh Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi addressed the function. He said Himachal Pradesh has launched digital resurvey on the model of Kerala. The state has started panchayat-level committees on the model of Kerala for the effective implementation of the project, he said.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
No changes needed in LR Act: Min
T'puram: Revenue minister K Rajan on Thursday asserted that there is no need for any major amendments to Kerala's landmark Land Reforms Act, reiterating its enduring relevance and strength in ensuring social justice and equitable land distribution. His remarks come in the wake of state industries department proposing to revise the existing land ceiling limits to facilitate large-scale industrial projects, triggering concerns of possible dilution of Land Reforms Act. The minister inaugurated the representative session of the four-day national conclave on digital resurvey titled 'Bhoomi', organized by state revenue and survey-land records departments at Kovalam. During the session, he stated that while minor amendments and context-driven changes were made to the law in the past, there is currently no need for any major reform. "The Kerala Land Reforms Act laid the foundation for the state's transformative social progress. Though several states emulated our land reforms, none matched the strength and breadth of Kerala's law," Rajan said. "The law ended tenancy and helped actual tillers become landowners. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo It also empowers the govt to assign land for industrial, commercial, educational and charitable purposes," he added. Rajan clarified that reports suggesting Kerala was preparing to alter the land ceiling provisions were "misleading" and stemmed from a superficial understanding of the law's objectives. "Any reading of the Act must be rooted in its core intent of social equity," he said. He pointed out that even as sweeping changes occur across the country in land use and demographics, the governance of land hasn't seen corresponding innovation. Kerala, he said, is now moving towards what can be termed a "Second Land Reform" by modernising land administration through digital resurvey and e-governance. "Revolutionary steps in the revenue and survey sectors have been initiated under this govt, the most important being the statewide digital resurvey. It has helped prepare accurate, transparent land records and resolve boundary disputes," Rajan said. He added that for the first time in India, a unique thandaper (land ownership ID) system was implemented in villages where the digital resurvey was completed. The minister also highlighted the creation of a unified land portal — Ente Bhoomi — that integrates the portals of the revenue, survey and registration departments, offering a seamless interface for all land-related transactions and records. "In villages where the resurvey is complete, authenticated land sketches and ownership details will now be accessible even before registration. This will eliminate fraud and misrepresentation in land transfers," he said. Over 120 delegates, including top officials from 23 states, are participating in the conclave.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Revenue department acquires surplus land in Panampilly Nagar
Kochi: After more than 50 years of legal battles, revenue department acquired 4.22 acres of surplus land in a posh area in Panampilly Nagar. The area on Justice Krishna Iyer Road near Kadavanthra, which falls under five survey numbers in Elamkulam village, was declared surplus land after 1963 Land Reforms Act came into effect. However, due to legal proceedings initiated by landowners, technical obstacles prevented acquisition process by state govt. Cases related to this were ongoing since 1973. Subsequent to the instructions from chairman of Vaikom taluk land board, procedures were expedited, enabling the acquisition now. Given its location in the heart of Kochi city, the land holds significant value. The process was completed under the leadership of Kanayannur taluk tahsildar D Vinod and the team comprised land records tahsildar C R Shanoj Kumar, deputy tahsildars Bino Thomas and Biju Jose, village officer P Sajith and section clerk Martin Tinoy.
United News of India
28-05-2025
- Business
- United News of India
SC upholds Tribunal order validating 1967 Gift Deed, rejects benami allegation based on retrospective law
New Delhi, May 27 (UNI) The Supreme Court has upheld an order of the West Bengal Land Reforms and Tenancy Tribunal that set aside the declaration of a 1967 gift deed as a benami transaction, ruling that the genuineness of a registered gift cannot be questioned due to a retrospective amendment in law made decades later. A bench, comprising Justices Rajesh Bindal and Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh, dismissed an appeal challenging the Tribunal's order, which had been overturned by the Calcutta High Court. The Supreme Court restored the Tribunal's decision, holding that the High Court erred in treating the gift deed as questionable based on an amendment introduced in 1989 to the West Bengal Land Reforms Act, 1955, with retrospective effect. 'The genuineness of the registered gift deed executed on December seven, 1967 could not be put in doubt merely because of a legislative amendment introduced over two decades later,' the Court observed. The bench added, 'If that argument were accepted, the entire holding could have been distributed to evade land ceiling provisions. However, the fact remains that even after the 1967 gift to his children, 8.806 acres of land remained with Iswar Chandra Pal and was rightfully declared surplus and vested in the State.' Notably, in 1967, Iswar Chandra Pal executed a registered gift deed transferring 20.88½ acres of land to his sons and daughters. This transfer was reflected in the revenue records by 1969. After Pal's death in 1975, the State declared 8.80 acres of his remaining land as surplus and took possession of it. Following the 1989 amendment to the Land Reforms Act, proceedings were initiated to re-examine land holdings under Sections 14T(3), 14M, and 14S of the Act. In 1997, a Revenue officer held that the 1967 gift deed was a 'benami' transaction and declared 17.9 acres of land as surplus, allowing the family to retain only 8.65 acres. The family appealed, and the Tribunal later set aside the Revenue officer's order. However, the High Court, on a writ petition by the State, remanded the matter for reconsideration, treating the gift deed as potentially 'benami'. Challenging the High Court's order, the appellants argued that it was legally unsound to treat a valid 1967 gift deed as 'benami' simply because of a law amended in 1989. Agreeing with the appellants, the Supreme Court held that the retrospective application of the amendment could not invalidate a transaction that was lawful and registered decades earlier. 'It would be illogical to assume that one could anticipate future land ceiling laws and structure transactions accordingly,' the bench said. The Court concluded that the High Court had wrongly interfered with the Tribunal's order, as the facts of the case did not permit more than one interpretation. It therefore allowed the appeal and reinstated the Tribunal's decision.
Hindustan Times
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Sangrur protesters' detention oppressive move, say farmer unions
Farmer unions have termed the police action as oppressive wherein around 400 members of the Zameen Prapti Sangharsh Committee (ZPSC) were detained while they were marching towards Bir Aishwan in Sangrur district to take possession of a big chunk of land, claiming it had no heir, on May 20. According to ZPSC, the 927-acre land, owned by the erstwhile princely state of Jind, had no heir following the death of its last ruler. The ZPSC has been demanding distribution of the said land among landless people under the Land Reforms Act. Manjit Singh Dhaner, president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Dakaunda), said, 'The police believe this movement can be suppressed by force.' Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan), said, 'The imprisonment is unjust and land ceiling law should be implemented, ensuring that land held by landlords exceeding 17.5 acres is distributed among the working class,' he said. SSP Sartaj Singh Chahal said around 150 members are still detained. 'It is preventive detention keeping in mind the law and order. Further action will be taken accordingly,' he said.
