Govt tables Odisha Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill, 2015 in Assembly

Bhubaneswar, Aug 20: In order to check the land grabbing cases in the state, Odisha government on Wednesday tabled Odisha Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill, 2015 in Assembly amid chaos yesterday. The Bill terms land grabbing as a “cognizable” offence and proposes 1-7 years of jail term to the offenders besides penalty.

The state government has promulgated land grabbing prohibition ordinance on May 28, 2015 after it got assent of the Present of India.

On Wednesday, the bill was tabled by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh in the assembly on behalf of Revenue Minister Bijayshree Routray. The bill will be discussed during ongoing monsoon session.

According to reports, by the last of June 2014, over 4,500 acres of government land were encroached by either individual or groups. As per the provisions mentioned in the bill, special courts with status as ‘Civil Court’ will be set up to deal with the land grabbing cases and offenders would be punished.

Key Features of Odisha Land Gabbing (Prohibition) Bill, 2015:

* Penalties against Encroachment of Government or Public Sector Land
* Establishment of fast track courts to expedite trial. Those courts will be termed as Civil Courts.
* Land grabbing would be punishable with a jail term of 1-7 years with fine up to Rs 20,000.
* If a company is found guilty in land grab, the Directors or Management during that period will be held responsible.