State Cabinet Approves Changes to Village Common Land Ownership Rules in Haryana

The Haryana state cabinet has approved an ordinance to amend the Haryana Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act 1961. This change affects the ownership of 'shamlat deh' lands, allowing long-term leaseholders to gain ownership. The amendment also facilitates the establishment of Gaushalas and enables income generation for Panchayats.

The Haryana state cabinet has given its approval for an ordinance amending the rules related to village common land use.

The amendment to the Haryana Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act 1961 affects ownership of 'shamlat deh' land, which is reserved for common purposes in villages. Under the new ordinance, lands leased under the East Punjab Utilization of Lands Act 1949 and currently cultivated by original allottees, transferees, or their legal heirs will be excluded from 'shamlat deh'.

In a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, it was decided that original lessees or their legal heirs must pay an amount to the Gram Panchayat for ownership transfer. This will benefit many farmers who have been using this land for decades, according to an official statement. The ordinance also allows villagers to purchase Panchayat land they built houses on before March 31, 2004, up to 500 square yards, at market rates.

Additionally, the cabinet approved leasing over seven acres of 'shamlat deh' land in Gram Panchayat Rangala, district Nuh, for 20 years to Matrdhara Gauvansh Rakshan and Samvardhan Trust for building a Gaushala. This is part of a new policy to use shamlat lands for new Gaushalas to manage stray cattle.

(With inputs from agencies.)