Aiming to resolve long-standing issues related to land ownership in rural Haryana, the state government recently promulgated the Haryana Abadi Deh (Vesting, Recording, and Resolving of Ownership Rights) Ordinance, 2025. The Ordinance is designed to grant statutory recognition to land ownership rights in the abadi deh areas of villages and create a streamlined, transparent process for recording and transferring these rights. This step follows years of struggles related to land demarcation, disputes over property boundaries, and the lack of formal documentation for ownership in rural settlements.
The primary goal of the Abadi Deh Ordinance is to vest ownership rights in occupiers of land within village abadi deh areas, which include residential plots, courtyards, and small commercial establishments. The Ordinance addresses the need to demarcate and record land boundaries clearly and create an official record of rights for property owners. It also lays out a framework for resolving disputes and recognising ownership rights.
Historically, land within the abadi deh of a village was not assessed for revenue purposes, and ownership often remained ambiguous. Despite the Haryana Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961, which vested certain rights in land occupied by non-proprietors, the lack of a formal record of rights created confusion and hardship, especially in cases of inheritance, transfer, lease, or mortgage.
One of the crucial aspects of the Ordinance is its aim to endow proprietary rights on the occupiers of land in the abadi deh. Under the Ordinance, individuals who have occupied land in these areas permanently will now be recognised as the rightful owners. Previously, these occupiers lacked any formal legal document to prove their ownership, which often led to disputes and difficulties in transferring property rights.
The Ordinance builds on initiatives such as the SVAMITVA scheme, a national program launched by the Government of India to provide clear land titles to rural households through drone technology and satellite mapping. Since 2019, the Haryana government, in collaboration with the Survey of India, has mapped the boundaries of abadi deh areas using advanced technology, issuing SVAMITVA Rights Certificates to legitimate landholders.
‘Abadi deh’ means the site recorded as such in the Record of Rights prepared and maintained under the Haryana Land Revenue Act, 1887 (Punjab Act XVII of 1887), which is not assessed to land revenue.
The Ordinance will also facilitate the transfer of property rights, such as ownership, lease and mortgage (with or without possession), thereby enabling residents to access financial services, including bank loans. Haryana Cabinet, on November 4, had approved the proposal to issue this Ordinance that was eventually issued on November 26.
As per the Ordinance, the “occupier means a person(s) who is in permanent possession of a built-up structure including dwelling and residential area along with its courtyard, shop and establishment, having rights akin to an owner, and is not in possession as a tenant, lessee, mortgagee, assignee or such other possession which is temporary in nature”; and “owner means an occupier whose name is recorded in the final record of rights prepared under this Ordinance”.
Record of rights and village committees
The Ordinance also mandates the creation of a standing record of rights for each abadi deh area. This record will detail the ownership, tenancy, or leasing rights of individuals occupying the land. It will also include information on payments due, such as rents or taxes. A village committee, headed by the Sarpanch and comprising key local figures, will be constituted by the Assistant Collector 2nd Grade to identify and verify ownership rights. This committee will help record the details of the landowners, tenants, and other stakeholders. Once the records are drafted, they will be displayed publicly for objections. The display process is designed to allow villagers to contest inaccuracies in ownership or boundary claims. The Assistant Collector will then resolve disputes and make corrections where necessary.
Legal implications and jurisdiction
The Ordinance also outlines the powers vested in various government officers, including the Financial Commissioner, Commissioner, and Assistant Collectors, to oversee the implementation of the law. These officers are granted civil court-like powers, including the ability to summon witnesses, examine evidence, and issue orders. Importantly, the Ordinance bars civil courts from hearing any disputes related to matters covered by it. This means that all land ownership disputes, including those involving abadi deh areas, will be handled exclusively by the designated officers under the provisions of this Ordinance. Further, the Ordinance protects actions taken in good faith by officers and government officials from legal scrutiny, ensuring that they cannot be sued or prosecuted for their official duties.
Penalties for violations
The Ordinance also introduces penalties for individuals who wilfully destroy or tamper with survey demarcation marks. A fine of up to Rs 1,000 per mark can be imposed, and the fines will be recoverable as arrears of land revenue. This provision aims to safeguard the integrity of the land survey process and prevent any interference that could disrupt land records.
Moving forward
A senior official told The Indian Express that “this Ordinance is part of the Haryana government’s broader effort to modernise land records and clarify property rights in rural areas. The government hopes that by creating a transparent and systematic framework for land ownership, it will encourage economic development, reduce land disputes, and provide legal security to rural inhabitants. The Ordinance also includes provisions for the government to make adjustments if any difficulties arise in its implementation. It provides a mechanism for officers to enter premises to conduct surveys, and it establishes the legal framework for issuing updated land ownership certificates.”
Haryana’s Abadi Deh Ordinance 2025 gives statutory ownership rights to long-term occupiers in village abadi areas and establishes a clear, technology-based system for recording property boundaries and resolving disputes. (Photo by Vishal Srivastav) 
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