Governor Ram Naik has given his assent to the much-awaited Revenue Code Bill thus allowing Dalits to sell off their land to non-Dalits even if the same is less than 3.5 acres. A Raj Bhawan spokesman said in lucknow on Tuesday that the approval was given to the ordinance after the state government informed the Governor that it has given a commitment to the High Court to get this Act through in form of an ordinance.
The Revenue Code Bill was passed by the UP cabinet a fortnight back and the same was sent to the Governor for his nod. The ordinance includes repealing of 31 land-related rules, regulations and Acts. The ordinance also allows Dalits to sell their land even if they have less than 3.5 acres. The Governor refused to sign the ordinance maintaining that since the winter session was expected in December, there was no need of any ordinance. However on December 9, the CM met Governor and apprised him that the state government may not go for a Winter Session as it does not need supplementary grants.
Justifying his stress on getting the Bill passed, the CM is reported to have said that the High Court had twice asked the state government the reason for not implementing the Revenue Code Act, 2006. Yadav further pointed out that the Principal Secretary ( Revenue) had submitted an affidavit before the the High Court that the government would soon bring an ordinance in this regard and implement land reforms in UP. Recently, Revenue minister Shivpal Yadav had also called on the Governor and urged him to pass the ordinance.
The Raj Bhawan spokesman said that once the Chief Minister gave it in writing that the Assembly session would be held in January, the Governor gave his assent.
Earlier, a PIl had been filed in the High Court urging it to interbene and get the Revenue Code Act, 2006 implemented, which was consented by the President of India too. But it could not be implemented as it had 94 mistakes and required amendments which have been incorporated.