Over 11,000 tillers to get ownership rights over land in Punjab

More than 11,200 tillers in Punjab who have been occupying over 4,000 acres of land for generations but had no title rights will now have ownership of the land after paying due compensation as President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to a legislation in this effect. The legislation is known as the Punjab Bhondedar, Butemar, Dohlidar, Insar Miadi, Mukarraridar, Mundhimar, Panahi Qadeem, Saunjidar, or Taraddadkar (Vesting of Proprietary Rights) Bill, 2020. This bill was passed by the Punjab Assembly in 2020 when the Congress government led by Amarinder Singh was in power.

The move is expected to empower the tillers of such land, who mostly belong to economically and socially weaker sections of society, according to an official. These tenants have been in occupation of small parcels of land for many years and inherit their rights by succession from generation to generation. However, since they were not registered owners, they neither have access to financial institutions for loans nor get relief for any natural disaster.

Now, they will get all benefits like other landowners. This law will be applicable to occupiers of land who or their predecessors in interest have been recorded as Bhondedar, Butemar, Dohlidar, Insar Miadi, Mukarraridar, Mundhimar, Panahi Qadeem, Saunjidar, or Taraddadkar for a period of at least 20 years on the appointed day.

The official reason cited for this move by policy makes is that this Act is a measure of agrarian reform to grant proprietary rights to such class of tenants and to provide for payment of compensation to the landowners whose rights in the land shall be extinguished. They believe this measure will also promote investment in agriculture and boost its productivity.

President Murmu also gave her assent to a Telangana Bill which allows the imposition of a fine on people standing surety for securing bail in cases of grave offenses if he or she fails to produce the accused on the date fixed by the court. The Code of Criminal Procedure (Telangana Amendment) Bill, 2020 was introduced by the K Chandrashekar Rao government after a state-level judicial officers conference in 2016 suggested it.

Overall, the passage of these two bills is expected to bring about positive changes in the lives of those affected. The Punjab bill is expected to provide economic benefits to the tillers of land, who have been deprived of their rights for a long time and boost agricultural productivity in the region.

Next (Panvel civic body seals 118 commercial shops over non-payment of property tax dues)

Over 11,000 tillers to get ownership rights over land in Punjab

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