The ruling NDA and the Opposition parties are all out for a ‘decisive’ battle over the proposed changes in the tenancy laws in Jharkhand as the Government readies to table the Bills seeking amendment in the CNT and SPT Acts in the Winter Session of Assembly beginning on Thursday.
While the State Cabinet today went ahead with approving the drafts for Bills to be brought for amending SPT and CNT Acts provisions, the Opposition also cleared its intentions after an all-party meeting called by Speaker Dinesh Oraon that it is not going to accept any attempt for changes in the land laws.
Informing about the decisions, Revenue and land Reforms department Secretary KK Soan said, “Provision of the section-13 of the SPT Act has been amended in which it has been defined clearly that title of the land in question would not change on its conversion from agricultural to non-agricultural purposes. Right of the raiyat over the land would remain intact just like it was in the SPT Act-1949 before.”
Similarly, the ownership would remain unchanged for the land coming under the CNT governed areas and the Section-21 of the Act would be amended by the Bill. Another change would be brought by amending Section-49 of the CNT Act by adding another sub-section; i.e. 49 (1)-C.
“Earlier the Act has sub-sections (1)-A and (1)-B dealing with lands to be acquired for mining and industrial purposes, respectively. A new sub-section in the form of (1)-C is being added that would define welfare purposes and Government projects for which tribal land would be acquired. This include projects for road construction, irrigation, electricity, canal, rail, water pipelines and for building schools, colleges, panchayats, health centers, anganwadi by the Government,” added Soan.
The proposed changes in Section 49(2) of the CNT make it compulsory to complete a project for which any land is taken within five years time, failing to this the land is to be restored with the original raiyat without returning the compensation paid. Provision for compensation against sale and purchase of tribal land to any non-tribal would be abolished by amending Section 71(A)(2) of the CNT Act while SAR courts meant to hear such cases would function till the matters are pending.
The Cabinet also approved a resolution providing title rights to the displaced of any project over the land given as rehabilitation packages. The land holder would be eligible for sale of the land in case of any need. Besides, the displaced and his kin based on the land given as rehabilitation would be entitled for caste and land related certificates issued by the Collector.
“The decision would ease the certificate related issues coming in the ways of the displaced.
They would also be given full right over the land on which they are settled due to displacement. The decision would be applicable for all such land acquisitions made and rehabilitations taken place so far in the State, even during Bihar times,” said the Secretary.
Meanwhile, leader of Opposition Hemant Soren said that the government must respond to the sensitive issues and clear all doubts of the people of this state. “First, they said that no amendment was being done but later said that only simplification of the Acts was being done. What does this simplification meanIJ Whether it is in favour of the people of this State or against their aspirations…… this needs to be understood by all of us. All we can say that this government has been working on a hidden agenda on every front and their intentions are not clear,” said Soren, the JMM working president.
Soren further added that he was not against running the House, but warned that the Government should take the doubts over some of the sensitive issues seriously during the session.
The JMM has directed its 19 MlAs to resort to the hard line inside the House as and when the Treasury bench moves the amendment Bill.
“We would oppose the amendment Bill to be brought by the government in the CNT and SPT Acts. A proper discussion is needed so that the government can be exposed. Besides, we have several other issues such as so many firing incidents targeting commoners for which we have demanded judicial probe, custodial deaths etc at hand. The party seeks answers on all that from the Government which is sounding arrogant,” said State Congress chief Sukhdeo Bhagat. The JVM also supported the Congress stand.