Pushkar Singh Dhami government in Uttarakhand has banned the purchase of agricultural land by outsiders in the state. District magistrates have been ordered not to allow agriculture and horticulture land purchase deals until further orders or until the committee submits the draft of the new land law.
“Under an amendment in 2004, section 154 of the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari and Land Settlement Act, 1950, includes persons who do not own immovable property in the state before September 12, 2003,” a statement issued by the government late on Sunday night said. . “No permission will be given to purchase agriculture and horticulture land in the state.”
Therefore, allowing non-natives to purchase agricultural land has been suspended and district magistrates have been directed to stop all agricultural and horticultural land purchase deals by outsiders, the Dhami government statement said.
It was informed that a drafting committee has been constituted by the state government to draft new land laws for Uttarakhand.
It is noteworthy that an expert panel constituted by the state government on land law in 2021 had submitted its report in 2022. Another high-level committee has been tasked with drafting the new land law. It was kept a secret until recently when activists and state agitators protested and raised a strong demand for early implementation of the new land and domicile laws in the state.
During a high-level meeting on Sunday, Chief Minister Dhami said that unlike the existing norms, the District Magistrate will not have the final authority on granting permission to purchase land for agriculture and horticulture purposes for people who are not from the state.
He said the ban on purchasing agricultural land for outsiders will continue until further orders or the report of the draft land law committee. This decision has been taken in the interest of the state and its people.
The Chief Minister directed the committee to expedite the drafting of land laws with extensive consultation and suggestions from experts and people associated with various professions. He directed the officials to conduct wide-scale public hearing under the committee before finalizing the draft land law.