Odisha to promulgate ordinance to stop land grab

Odisha cabinet today decided to promulgate an ordinance providing for imprisonment up to seven years and establishment of a special court with powers to take cognisance and try cases of land grabbing suo motu.
"It has come to notice that there are organised attempts by certain persons operating individually or in groups to grab land, either by force or by deceit, belonging to government, local authority, religious or charitable institution or endowment," Chief Secretary G C Pati told reporters after the cabinet meeting.
As public order is also adversely affected due to the unlawful activities of land grabbers, particularly in respect of urban and urbanised lands, it is felt necessary to arrest and curb such activities immediately by enacting a special law in this regard, he said.

"Since the state legislature is not in session, the state government has decided to take immediate action by promulgating Odisha Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Ordinance, 2014 under Article 213 of the Constitution," Pati said.
Under the Ordinance, it is proposed to establish a Special Court, which shall have power to take cognisance and try every case arising out of any alleged act of land grabbing suo motu or on application filed by any officer, authority or person, he said.
The special court would be deemed to be a "Civil Court" and "Court of Session" for the purpose of the proposed Ordinance, he said.

The offences committed under the proposed Ordinance shall be made punishable with imprisonment for a minimum period of one year which may extend to seven years and with fine which may extend to Rs 20,000, Pati said.
The offence would be cognisable and non-bailable and no person would be released on bail without hearing public prosecutor, he said, adding, the burden of proof that he has not grabbed the land, lies with the person who is alleged to have committed land grabbing.