 "New land grabbing law prescribes strict penalty")
Unauthorised occupation of land and fraudulent sale of land to real estate developers would now be dealt strictly with the state government making land grabbing a cognizable offence.
Under the Odisha Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Ordinance 2015, notified by the government, land grabbing has been declared unlawful and any activity connected with or arising out of land grabbing would be a punishable offence.
"The state government has defined what constitutes land grabbing. It is now a cognizable offence. We have asked the law department to take steps to set up a special court for dealing with cases of land grabbing," said Mona Sharma, principal secretary, revenue & disaster management.
According to the Ordinance, land grabber means a person or a group of persons who commits land grabbing and includes any person who gives financial aid to any person for illegal possession of lands or for construction of unauthorised structures thereon. Land grabbing has been defined as every activity of grabbing of any land by a person or group of persons, without any lawful entitlement. Any person who contravenes the provisions under sub-section 1 or 2 of the Ordinance, on conviction, would be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year but it may extend to seven years, and face penalty of up to Rs 20,000.
For the purpose of providing speedy enquiry into alleged cases of encroachment and trial of cases in respect of ownership and title, the government would set up a special court. The special court would consist of a chairman and four other members to be appointed by the government.
Under the Odisha Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Ordinance 2015, notified by the government, land grabbing has been declared unlawful and any activity connected with or arising out of land grabbing would be a punishable offence.
"The state government has defined what constitutes land grabbing. It is now a cognizable offence. We have asked the law department to take steps to set up a special court for dealing with cases of land grabbing," said Mona Sharma, principal secretary, revenue & disaster management.
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The Rules for the Ordinance are being framed and a Bill is likely to be introduced in the ensuing session of the state assembly in this regard, she said.
According to the Ordinance, land grabber means a person or a group of persons who commits land grabbing and includes any person who gives financial aid to any person for illegal possession of lands or for construction of unauthorised structures thereon. Land grabbing has been defined as every activity of grabbing of any land by a person or group of persons, without any lawful entitlement. Any person who contravenes the provisions under sub-section 1 or 2 of the Ordinance, on conviction, would be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year but it may extend to seven years, and face penalty of up to Rs 20,000.
For the purpose of providing speedy enquiry into alleged cases of encroachment and trial of cases in respect of ownership and title, the government would set up a special court. The special court would consist of a chairman and four other members to be appointed by the government.