Gujarat Land Grabbing Prohibition Act

Chief Minister Shri Vijaybhai Rupani's decision to crack down on land grabbing activities. The state government is committed to protecting the interests of farmers and legitimate landowners by controlling land mafias.

Chief Minister Shri Vijaybhai Rupani will present it at the state cabinet meeting on Wednesday
Proposal of Gujarat Land Grabbing Prohibition Act.

• Special court to set up special court to punish land mafias through speedy-transparent case investigation-hearing-State Govt.
• The case will be disposed of within six months of the case being filed in the court
• Land grabbers will be jailed for 10 to 15 years - punitive penalty equal to the jantri value of the land
• Land Grabber will be responsible for the burden of proof.
• Crimes under this Act will be investigated by a police officer who is not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.

Gujarat Land Grabbing Prohibition Act will be enacted by the Government-Local Self-Government Institutions-Charitable Institutions-Public Trusts-Religion Stations-Privately Owners-Farmers Best Choice for Investment-Land of Opportunity in Gujarat. 

Those responsible for such misconduct in buying and selling land will also be punished

Comprehensive development - will give new impetus to development journey from best to best - Gujarat Land Grabbing Prohibition Act CM decides to issue ordinance to stop land mafia activities.

Chief Minister Shri Vijaybhai Rupani has decided to pass a strict act-bill to crack down on land mafia elements illegally occupying land owned by government, local self-governing bodies or public trust-monasteries, farmers or private persons in Gujarat.

The Chief Minister is scheduled to present a proposal in this regard in the state cabinet meeting to be held tomorrow, Wednesday.

Gujarat has become the best choice for investment and land of opportunity for investors, industries, trade and employment from all over the world as a leading state of the country which is benefiting from global development.

The overall development of Gujarat in the last two decades has resulted in a significant increase in economic, social and commercial and agricultural activities in the state. At the same time, due to the speed of all these activities, the demand for land to build the required structure is gradually increasing.

Demand for land is increasing, especially in the municipal areas and industrial areas of the state and for residential purposes. And at the same time the market value of the land is increasing.

Lands owned by the state government or local bodies by force, criminal intimidation or fraud by some elements involved in the sale of land as well as individuals with vested interests taking advantage of the situation and engaging in illegal activities with the intention of making money overnight. Gujarat Land Grabbing Prohibition Act Download Here 

They have been involved in illegal activities by forging documents, illegal possession without any direct possession or ownership and in some cases colluding with the administration, confiscating such land, transferring it in the name of others, selling it and renting it out.

The state government has also received complaints from time to time about illegal activities ranging from confiscating the land of Dhartiputras as well as religious institutions and constructing and selling it.

Even in individual cases, many people in the state have fallen prey to such elements. This sometimes raises law and order issues for the state government. Land grabbing in any form under those circumstances is prohibited by this Act. And declared such activity illegal.

The law provides that not only lands owned by government or local authorities but also persons involved in activities such as religious charities or donations or private tenants who have no legal tenants and continue to occupy the land will be found guilty under the Act and will be convicted for at least ten years. And imprisonment for a maximum of fourteen years as well as a fine up to the jantri value of the property.

Crimes under this Act will be investigated only by a police officer who is not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.

 The implementation of this Act in the State will pave the way for drastic punishment and punitive action against the illegal or intimidating, intimidating elements occupying the lands of farmers, common man or private ownership, public institution, government, local self-government.

Thus, when the provisions of the ordinance come into force, the land can be confiscated and sold or the law can be enacted to encourage such activity so that the people can enjoy the rights of land ownership without any worries. 

In addition, farmers, religious, social trusts, public trusts, institutions, etc. involved in the activity of this law will be facilitated in their administration.

The Chief Minister has developed maximum use of technology and face lash systems for simplification of revenue services in the state.

Recently, the state government has radically amended the law on land purchase to facilitate the sale and purchase of lands for agriculture, animal husbandry, health and engineering education as well as bona fide industrial purposes to make the people realize transparency and decisiveness.

As a result, the Chief Minister has taken the initiative to adopt a new approach of economic support by giving a fair price to the rightful landowners instead of the elements occupying the land at a time when the land holder is now getting a fair price for his farm, non-farm land.

As the state government is determined to curb the activities of land grabbing land mafia, the Chief Minister has decided to take immediate action by proposing this in the state cabinet meeting and issue an ordinance in case the assembly session is not in progress at present.

The provisions of this Ordinance shall come into force with immediate effect. With its effective implementation, all persons who illegally occupy lands, provide financial assistance for construction on such lands as well as collect rent or compensation or other assistance from the occupants of such lands through criminal intimidation will be defined as land grabbers.

Some of the important provisions of the Gujarat Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act Ordinance are as follows: -

Strict provisions have been made in the Act that any form of land grabbing or any other activity done for the purpose of land grabbing in the state will be considered as a prohibited, illegal and punishable offense.

The state government will set up special courts as per the requirement for speedy-transparent investigation and hearing of such land grabbing cases as well as strict punishment of land mafias.

Arrangements will also be made for such a special court to dispose of such cases within six months of the case being entered in the court in most cases.

The State Government will appoint a Public Prosecutor in each special court for expeditious hearing of cases.

Such a special court will be able to take strict legal action against the land grabbers with suo moto.

Other offenses related to land grabbing as per the provisions of The Gujarat Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act, 2020 are to put up for sale or advertise the grabbed land, to provide backing to another person to grab the land or to give incentive-greed to 10 years imprisonment. And will have to pay a punitive penalty equal to the jantri price.

In addition to this, those who enter into a contract for construction on such usurped land or buy / acquire land usurped by others will be punished equally.

In order to accelerate the all-round development journey of cities-towns-metropolises in Gujarat, the Chief Minister has sought to build the best of Gujarat through maximum use of land through industry-trade-agriculture-animal husbandry as well as employment opportunities.

The Gujarat Land Grabbing Prohibition Act will be a new milestone in realizing this name.