The Arvind Kejriwal Government on Tuesday evening notified a new circle rate on agricultural land. Interestingly, the Delhi Government issued the orders in the name of the lieutenant-Governor (l-G) Najeeb Jung but never sent the files to him for approval.
In the process, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government also bypassed suggestions of the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretaries, Finance, law and Revenue, who urged the Government to take the l-G’s approval before notifying the new circle rates.
The Government also issued notices to the law Secretary and Chief Secretary for not toeing the Government’s line on the issue. Incidentally, Delhi law Minister Kapil Mishra had recently issued a circular directing all Ministers that there was no need to send files to the l-G’s office.
Taking strong exception to the State Government’s move, Jung on Wednesday called for all the relevant files. “The matter was not placed before the l-G prior to the issue of notification. The l-G’s office has therefore called for the relevant files for examining the legal and constitutional aspects of the notification,” l-G said in a statement.
According to the notification, the rates for acquiring one acre of agriculture land will be anything between Rs1 crore and Rs1.50 crore in different districts. But the acquisition rate for agricultural land in villages where land pooling policy is applicable will range from Rs2.25 crore to Rs3.50 crore per acre.
“The l-G of the National Capital Territory of Delhi hereby revises and notifies the minimum rates for the purposes of chargeability of stamp duty on the instruments related to sale/transfer of agricultural land,” the notification said.
The notification, signed by Sanjay Kumar, IAS, who is holding charge of Special Inspector-General (Registration) came into immediate effect. The copy of the notification has been sent to Secretary to the l-G.
The last revision of circle rate for agricultural land was in 2008 while the circle rate for other properties was revised in 2014. The current circle rate for regular agricultural land is Rs 53 lakh per acre. The revision will purportedly benefit the farmers. This is the first time that land acquisition rate was linked to circle rate of property in Delhi.
Experts say, the l-G may either declare the new notification null and void or seek an explanation from the Government. This is the first time that the l-G has been bypassed by the State Government on the matter. Political experts say the Government’s move is set to escalate the tussle with the l-G.