The Assembly on Wednesday passed the Odisha Government Land Settlement (Amendment) Bill, 2013 and the Industrial Disputes (Odisha Amendment) Bill, 2013 by a voice vote.
After the amendment, the authority will be able resume the land if the allottee keeps the land vacant for more than three years from the date of allotment.
Introducing the Bill for amendment to the Odisha Government Land Settlement Act 1962, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister S N Patro said changes in the law were required as it is silent on cases where the allottees have reasons to justify the non-use of the land settled in their favour.
The Minister said the Government land settled in favour of any organisation, institution, authority or department cannot be resumed if fallen vacant for indefinite period. The Act provides resumption of land and imposition of penalty where the authority has reasons to believe that the person with whom the land was settled has used the land for purpose other than that for which it was allotted. However, the existing law is silent on cases where a person does not use the land for indefinite period. But now the land can be resumed after three years.
Since immediate use of the land after commencement of the amended Act is not feasible, the new law will provide another three years to the allottee for use of the the land for the purpose for which it was allotted, he said.
However, the proposed amendment will not be applicable to landless and homesteadless persons.
New LAW
■ The Act provides resumption of land and imposition of penalty where the authority has reasons to believe that the person with whom the land was settled has used the land for purpose other than that for which it was allotted
■ The proposed amendment will not be applicable to landless and homesteadless persons