Bill on land ownership tabled

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 2

Health and Revenue Minister Kaul Singh Thakur presented the Himachal Pradesh Village Common Lands Vesting and Utilisation (Amendment) Bill 2015 in the Assembly today which would provide the ownership of land to those who had been in its possession for the last four decades.

The government had received several representations from these lessees “Chakotadhars” and an amendment to the Himachal Pradesh Village Common Lands Vesting and Utilisation Act, 1974, was necessary to provide ownership of land to these people. They had been given land by gram panchayats as per the Punjab Village Common Land Regulation Act, 1961.

The number of such lessees is 981 in Kangra, 184 in Kangra and 36 each in Una and Hamirpur districts. These persons had sought ownership of land on which they had their houses, cowsheds, farms and orchards.

A Bill to amend the Shimla Road Users and Pedestrians (Public Safety and Convenience) Act, 2007 was also tabled in the Assembly by the Chief Minister. This amendment would empower Assistant Sub-Inspectors for checking vehicles and compounding of offences on sealed and restricted roads. Earlier, the powers were given only to Executive Magistrate or police officer not below the rank of Sub-Inspector and the amendment is being made in view of shortage of police officers and increasing number of vehicles.