Govt offers ownership option for houses built on shamlat deh before 2004

The Haryana Government has amended the rules under the Haryana Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961, allowing rural residents who built houses on shamlat deh land before March 31, 2004, to legally acquire ownership, provided specific conditions are met.

As per the latest government notification, any individual who has constructed a house on up to 500 square yards of shamlat deh land before the cut-off date can apply to the Gram Panchayat for purchasing the land, if it is not reserved for a pond, road, or any other essential public use. The applicant must be willing to pay 1.5 times the collector rate applicable in 2004.

Sharing details, an official spokesperson said, “This initiative is a step towards resolving long-pending cases involving residential use of common village land. The open area must not exceed 25% of the constructed area, and the total occupied land must be within 500 square yards.”

The process requires the Gram Panchayat and Gram Sabha to review applications and pass a resolution. The proposal is then forwarded through the Block Development and Panchayat Officer and Deputy Commissioner to the Director General, Panchayati Raj Department, for final approval.

“Once approved, the Gram Panchayat can execute a registered sale deed in the applicant’s name at the tehsil office,” the spokesperson added.

To streamline the process, the Development and Panchayati Raj Department has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). An online portal is also being developed to facilitate timely application processing and ensure uniformity across the state.