Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday criticised the Hemant Soren-led government for bringing Jharkhand Land Mutation Bill 2020, alleging that by providing legal immunity to land and revenue department officials as envisaged in the act, the government aims to protect corrupts and to rob citizens of their fundamental right.
The cabinet in its last meeting passed it which is set to be tabled before the assembly during the monsoon session of the assembly set to start from September 18.
Once passed by the assembly, it will become a law. Notably, in the previous government headed by Raghubar Das; this was twice brought before the cabinet and every time it was rejected.
Senior BJP leader Babulal Marandi who addressed a press conference at the party headquarters on Sunday afternoon demanded roll back of the cabinet’s decision.
“This is a black law which must be withdrawn else the BJP will kick-off agitation from people to Assembly. The Government got it passed by the cabinet quite secretly and this is set to be introduced before the assembly during the monsoon session,” Marandi said.
Marandi alleged that through this proposed bill the government is giving legal protection to revenue officials against their any action.
“This Jharkhand Land Mutation Act 2020 is meant to protect land mafias and revenue officials. This is an open secret in Jharkhand about how land mafias and officials are doing scam. Even government lands are not safe. Leave talking about the gair majarua land even such land where government offices are situated are being sold by land mafias. Scam on the name of land mutation is going all across the state,” said Marandi.
Marandi expressed shock over the decision of the government. “We expected that the government would bring a law to put such officials in jail along with dismissal from jobs who are indulged in corruption. But here the Government is doing just opposite,” he said.
Marandi said that in the light of some of the worst land scams Jharkhand has witnessed the government is playing in the hands of corrupt officials and land mafias.
The draft of the bill was prepared in the light of the Subhadra Devi Vs state of Jharkhand case. The Jharkhand government decided to form a legislation to protect revenue officials from any legal action.
As per the act passed by the cabinet no criminal or civil case can be filed against revenue officials like circle officers, DCLR and likes by any public while discharging their duty. In short, common people can’t pursue any legal action against such officials even in the case of corruption, criminal breach of trust and forgery.
There is similar law in Bihar but it doesn’t give complete immunity to officials and the right of the citizens to lodge legal complaints against officials have not been taken back.