The Gujarat government is set to embark on a major legal overhaul by introducing a comprehensive Gujarat Land Administrative Act. This proposed umbrella legislation aims to streamline the state's revenue administration by consolidating and replacing as many as 16 existing revenue-related laws that have been in force for decades, some dating back to the British era.
Committee Recommends Consolidation to Cut Litigation
The move follows detailed deliberations by a committee established last month to review the state's entire revenue framework. The panel's primary goal is to suggest measures that simplify governance and reduce unnecessary legal disputes. After a two-day brainstorming session held recently, the committee concluded that the current multiplicity of laws governing land and revenue matters has led to procedural complications and frequent court cases.
A source familiar with the development stated that the deliberations highlighted how the existence of over a dozen separate acts for revenue matters consistently causes implementation difficulties and litigation. Consequently, the committee has recommended enacting a single, unified act that would incorporate provisions from the approximately 16 laws currently operational.
Reviving a Decade-Old Reform Initiative
According to official sources, the proposed legislation seeks to bring scattered provisions related to land records, revenue administration, and associated procedures under one statutory roof. The objective is to make revenue governance more efficient, transparent, and citizen-friendly.
This is not the first time such an initiative has been launched. A similar exercise was initiated back in 2012, when the state's revenue department began drafting an umbrella act. However, that proposal was eventually shelved, and the old laws continued. Officials now indicate the government is keen to revive the idea due to persistent demands from various stakeholders for simplification and clarity in the complex web of revenue laws.
Broad Mandate for the Review Committee
The committee examining the issue is headed by retired IAS officer C L Meena. It has been given a wide-ranging mandate to undertake a comprehensive review of all acts, rules, resolutions, and manuals administered by the revenue department.
Its responsibilities also include examining how various legal provisions have been interpreted by the Gujarat High Court and the Supreme Court in past judgments. Based on this analysis, the committee will suggest necessary amendments. Furthermore, it has been asked to consider representations from various organizations and associations, including those representing builders, lawyers, and other affected groups, and recommend changes to laws and rules accordingly.
List of Laws Likely to Be Replaced
The old laws slated to be replaced under the new umbrella act include a wide array of legislation governing different aspects of land and revenue:
- Gujarat Land Revenue Code, 1879
- Gujarat Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1948
- Saurashtra Gharkhed, Tenancy Settlement and Agricultural Lands Ordinance, 1949
- Gujarat Tenancy and Agricultural Lands (Vidarbha Region and Kutch Area) Act, 1958
- Saurashtra Land Reforms Act, 1951
- Saurashtra Estates Acquisition Act, 1952
- Mamlatdar Courts' Act, 1905
- Guardians and Wards Act, 1890
- Gujarat Court of Wards Act, 1963
- Gujarat Agricultural Lands Ceiling Act, 1960
- Gujarat Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1947
- Gujarat Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act, 2020
- Registration Act, 1908
- Gujarat Stamp Act, 1958
- The Gujarat Prohibition of Transfer of Immovable Property and Provision for Protection of Tenants from Premises in Disturbed Areas Act, 1991
- Treasure Trove Act, 1878
This ambitious consolidation effort, if successfully implemented, promises to transform land and revenue administration in Gujarat, making it more accessible and less prone to legal challenges.
