Leasehold and occupancy land holders to own plots occupied by them

More than 3,000 cooperative housing societies on government land in Mumbai, which come under class II, will have their ownership making their redevelopment possible

The Maharashtra government will soon come out with the rules to allow leasehold and occupancy land holders to own the plots occupied by them.

At present, neither the government is able to restore its land from the occupant, nor the occupant is able to enjoy the ownership, he added. There are more than 1 lakh such land parcels under various laws and alloted for various purposes, including housing, social and charitable causes and tilling (Hindustan Times)

They will be allowed to conduct transactions such as sale and transfer of the properties.

This means that more than 3,000 cooperative housing societies on government land in Mumbai, which come under class II, will have their ownership making their redevelopment possible.

Similarly, the lease holds to the charitable trusts running schools, maintaining the grounds will have the freehold of the land leased out on 99 to 999 years.

In rural areas, the agriculture land held by tillers for decades will enjoy freehold and the farmers occupying them will be free to sell them easily. This change is being facilitated under the ease of doing business initiative of the government.

Soon after the amendment in the Maharashtra Land Revenue Act in the budget session, the state government formed a committee to decide the modalities of the implementation.

What is class-I and II

Occupant class I refers to land whose ownership was vested even before British land surveys or inherited land were not given by the government.

Occupant class II refers to land given out to categories like the landless farmers with curbs on transfer, sale and change of use. The conversion will help use of land for development projects.

At present, neither the government is able to restore its land from the occupant, nor the occupant is able to enjoy the ownership, he added. There are more than 1 lakh such land parcels under various laws and alloted for various purposes, including housing, social and charitable causes and tilling.

The lands are governed under various laws such as Land Ceiling Act, Tenancy Act and the transfer, sale and change of use of the land is curbed. The occupants need to seek permissions from the collectors and in some cases the difference between two sale deeds should be more than 10 years.

Once the lands are upgraded to class-I, the occupants will be entitled to sell them by paying a premium ---- quantum of which is yet to be decided ---- to the government.

“In rural and even in urban areas, the industries setting up units were facing the problem of land acquisition related to the lands under class-II. The changes in the rules will ease business,” the official said.

“The report of the committee is expected to be submitted in two months. Without compromising on the revenue of the government, the owners will be benefited for freehold,” said Manu Kumar Srivastava, principal secretary, who heads the committee.