Pitch for Section 118 dilution gets shriller

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 12

While the BJP and the Congress have joined hand in opposing the dilution of Section 118 of the HP Land Reforms and Tenancy Act, the voices in its favour are getting shriller.

People are demanding its dilution for non-agriculturist bona fide Himachalis, living in the state since long and demanding the right to purchase land, which was snatched by the Act implemented in 1972.

“I was born before independence in Shimla and have been settled in the state for more than seven decades. Section 118 has snatched my right to purchase land whereas those agriculturists, who had no claim on Shimla till the Reorganisation of Punjab, have right to purchase land without any permission from the government,” says Hem Kumar.

“The section is retained to serve the vested interests of big Himachali agriculturists, who are eying the lands of small farmers as they are aware that they can buy their land without paying the fair market price,” says management professional Kuldeep Kaul from Shimla.

The Non-Agriculturist Unity Forum has demanded that non-agriculturists living in Himachal from generation to generation should be covered under the definition of “agriculturist” under the Act.

“The government has amended the Act six times but did not bother to safeguard the rights of non-agriculturist Himachalis and even the amendment to rules did not restore the right of non-agriculturists to purchase land,” said president of the forum Garish Sahni.

He said this small amendment would also protect the rights of small and marginal traders and industrialists as at present, they could purchase limited land in municipal areas.