Dehradun, Uttarakhand

“Land law” means land law or land-related regulation in the state. It includes the legal framework governing various aspects of land ownership, land use, land acquisition, land rights, and related matters.

Amidst the ongoing demand in the state, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced that his government is going to bring a big land law. The proposal for the law will be brought in the budget session next year. He said that the land of those who break the rules of 250 square meters of residential and 12.50 acres of other land will be vested in the government after investigation.

Under the Uttarakhand Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Destruction and Land Arrangement Act, a person from outside the state can buy a maximum of 250 square meters of land in Uttarakhand without permission. But there is no limit for permanent residents of the state to buy land. Under the currently applicable land law, a person can buy only 250 square meters of land. But after buying 250 square meters of land in his own name, if the person has also bought land in the name of his wife, then such people may face difficulties. Action will be taken to vest the land purchased more than the prescribed limit in the government.

Investors will not face any problems in the land to set up industries for the development and employment of the state. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has already clarified that people who invest will not face any problems in buying land. But if a person has taken land in the name of setting up an industry and has used that land for another purpose, then action will be taken against such people and the land will be vested in the government.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had indicated to implementation of this strict land law in the state next year. Along with this, he has also already looked into the violation of the current land law. He has also ordered an inquiry into the cases of violation of the provision of buying more than 250 square meters of land without permission outside the municipal areas and more than one member of the same family buying more land than prescribed in different names.

After investigation, it has been found that such cases have come to the fore, especially in four districts Dehradun, Nainital, Haridwar, and Udham Singh Nagar. In line with the orders of the Chief Minister, the government has issued orders and has also ordered the District Magistrates of these four districts to investigate these cases. The District Magistrate will take legal action after investigating such cases. The District Magistrate will also investigate the cases of using more than 2.5 acres of land purchased for investment in the state for other purposes. If the land has been purchased wrongly or is used in a different way, the District Magistrate will take legal action.

In my opinion, it is very important to have a land law for the entire state so that the land mafia stays at arm’s length. Common people feel that there should be a discussion about land law in the state before its implementation. A solid land law should be made while solving the problems of the common people so that it does not happen that all the land in the state is sold to outsiders and the original people of the state become homeless and outsiders take over.

In this regard, I feel that the incumbent government has done its homework well and has also taken the people of Uttarakhand into confidence for which the Dhami government should be applauded and given due credit.

Article written by and Editorial credit: State Bureau Chief Himanshu Nauriyal.