JVM Supremo Babulal Marandi has written to the Chief Raghubar Das seeking rectification of alleged anomalies in Chhota Nagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act which, according to him, has been used to harass Rayyts in many regions in State.
Citing example of 15.39 Acres of land given to Dabur India limited during 1943-44 on Deoghar-Jasidih Main Road, Marandi said that such land owners were earning millions of bucks by selling those land pieces to third-parties at prevailing market rates, while original Rayyts were struggling to earn their two-course meal.
In his letter, the former Chief Minister said that Dabur India limited, which had purchased land at meager Rs 3,182 per Acre and ran its factory there till as recently as 12-13 years ago, closed it down and sold the land out to one Nirbhay Kumar Shahabadi around 2004.
“The then Deoghar DC refused to register land deed in favour of Shahabadi, who went to Jharkhand High Court against this decision of DC. Though High Court on March 12, 2013 passed its verdict in favour of Shahabadi saying that the land owner possessed right to sell its property to anybody at its will, the Court also observed that the owner had run the factory for decades on a land piece which was purchased at low cost,” said Marandi.
He added that the Court had also ordered the purchaser to offer Rs 15 lakh each to original land owners keeping very basic virtue of CNT Act in mind apart from ordering the government to come up with provisions in CNT Act which not only kept interests of Ryyts intact in situations like this, but also stop anyone taking commercial benefits of Ryyts’ land.
“Even after four years, the government has taken no action on the observations of the High Court which is highly disappointing. This is why I request the government to come up with such provisions in CNT Act which keeps interests of original Ryyts intact,” said Marandi in his letter.