Nagaland to introduce new bill on land records, revenue

DIMAPUR – Nagaland government is all set to introduce a new bill to replace the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886.

The cabinet subcommittee under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister TR Zeliang had a thorough deliberation on the draft Nagaland Land Records, Revenue and Regulation Bill 2022 and other land acts, at a meeting held on July 27 in Kohima, as it is slated to be passed in the state assembly, said an update from the office of Planning and Transformation, National Highway.

The draft bill, which will replace the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation 1886, will make provision for land administration for different parts of Nagaland state and the matters connected to the law on land administration that is suitable to the conditions and circumstances prevalent in the state, it said.

The bill also encompasses provisions for the adaption of land administration accounts of different parts of Nagaland while safeguarding traditional rights and customary practices and their usages; and benefits from modern practices of land administration, survey and land records to allow for the full economic use of land as an asset.

The committee, after a thorough examination of the draft bill, decided to convene another round of meetings and have further consultation with the tribal hohos, advocate general and law department, for interaction and suggestion before placing its recommendation to the cabinet for its decision.

Thereafter, the bill will be tabled in the state assembly for discussion and adoption, it stated.

The committee also deliberated on the land compensation under the National Highway Authority of India’s guidelines on Land Acquisition for National Highways under The National Highways Act, 1956.

The committee observed that under the National Highways Act, the land owners are entitled to receive land compensation, besides structural damage compensation. It, however, noted that the people of Nagaland state have been deprived of this provision.

“It observed that the land owners in other parts of the country have been receiving land compensation apart from structural damage compensation, except Nagaland state where only structural damage compensations are paid due to some miscommunication between the State and Government of India,” said the update.

Hence, the cabinet subcommittee decided to refer, thereafter, to the state cabinet for a decision in order to redress the grievances of the land owners in the state.

The committee also examined the Nagaland Land (Requisition and Acquisition Act, 1965), the Nagaland Ownership and Transfer of Land and its Resources Act, 1990 and the Jhum Land Act, 1974, and decided to have further consultation on these Acts.

Among others, the meeting was attended by Minister of Road and Bridges G Kaito; Minister of Forest and Environment CL John; Advisor, Law and Justice and Land Revenue, TN Manen;  Advisor, Urban Development, Zhaleo Rio; Advisor, NRE and NSDMA, Z Nyusietho Nyuthe; Advisor, Industries and Commerce, Hekani Jakhalu; Commissioner and Secy., P&R, and Secretary, Land Revenue.