Eye on polls,govt pushes to amend archaic land reform act

As proposed,the sub divisional magistrates (SDM) would no longer have the authority to take action under Section 81 “against any establishment with an approved building plan”.

Section 81 of the Delhi Land Reforms Act states: “A Bhumidhar shall be liable to ejectment on the suit of the Gaon Sabha or the land holder for using land for any purpose other than a purpose connected with agriculture,horticulture or animal husbandry… the Revenue Assistant also may,on receiving information or on his own motion,eject the Bhumidhar or Asami and also recover the damages…”

The Delhi Land Reforms Act has been crying for amendment since it was implemented way back in 1954,and the rapidly urbanising city is struggling to breathe under the umbrella of the archaic act. While official sources said a full amendment to the Act may take some time,“the current proposal looks at major land reforms that promise to benefit a large section of the still rural population in Delhi,and the everyday harassment they face at the hands of government officials”.

“There are hotels and motels and other establishments with sanctioned building plans in the agricultural belt. If the proposal gets through,they will be saved from action under Section 81 of the 1954 DLR Act. The ones that still do not have their building plans approved by a competent authority will continue to be liable for action,” Dharam Pal said.

Official sources said the need for the proposal comes because of the failure of the Urban Development department,which has been sitting on a list of over 400 “urbanised” villages for over six years. Of them,275 villages are still waiting to be notified as urban under either Section 507 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act,or the Section 22 of the Delhi Land Revenue Act.

Officials said Section 81 of the DLR Act ceases to exist the moment a village is notified as urban under either of these Acts.

Officials said Section 81 of the DLR Act ceases to exist the moment a village is notified as urban either of these Acts.

Awaiting urban status

East district: 16 of 29 villages

North: 15 of 21

West: 22 of 38

South: 35 of 80

Northwest: 94 of 115

Southwest: 67 of 92 Notheast: 26 of 35