The Bill was passed in the absence of opposition Left Front and Congress. Moving the bill in the House, Minister of State for Land and Land Reforms Department Swapan Debnath said that the amendment of Section 14Z of the Act would exclude the provision for retention of land in excess of the prescribed ceiling for township development from the purview of the section.
The minister said during the erstwhile Left Front regime, excess land holding was used for building real estate. Now any surplus land could be used for poultry or dairy farming for the benefit of rural people and boost rural economy, Debnath said.
Section 50 of the Act has also been amended for introducing digital signature in accordance with the provision for Section 3 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 to ensure a more scientific authentication of all 'Records of Rights', the minister said.