On Wednesday (31st July), the Yogi Adityanath-led-BJP government passed the Uttar Pradesh Nazul Properties (Management and Utilisation for Public Purposes) Bill in the State Assembly.
The development came three months after the government notified an ordinance, preventing the conversion of ‘nazul land’ into freehold in favour of a private person.
The concept of ‘Nazul land’ came into existence during the British era when the colonisers took away lands belonging to defeated kings. After India gained Independence in 1947, the Britishers left the country but the ownership of such lands remained in dispute.
There’s is no one as competent as @myogiadityanath when it comes to erasing crimes.
— Mona Shandilya (@RoseTint4) August 3, 2024
With Nazul Land Bill, land mafia will be extinct species. #योगी_की_नजूल_क्रांति pic.twitter.com/G1alc4rV6e
The kings couldn’t provide documentation of their prior ownership and such lands came to be known as ‘nazul.’ Although such lands are owned by the State governments, they have been given on lease to poor people, hospitals and government establishments for several decades.
An estimated 10,000-15,000 acres of land in Uttar Pradesh are classified as ‘nazul’, with 1200 acres of such land in Prayagraj alone.
The BJP government in Uttar Pradesh have been eyeing to free the ‘nazul lands’ from the land mafia, strongmen politicians and those who have violated lease rules.
In this regard, it had notified the Uttar Pradesh Nazul Properties (Management and Utilization For Public Purposes) Ordinance in March and passed the Uttar Pradesh Nazul Properties (Management and Utilisation for Public Purposes) Bill on 31st July.
The #UPGovt's Nazul Property Bill 2024 aims to tackle land encroachment by allowing the government to reclaim properties acquired fraudulently and prevent freehold transfers to private entities.
— Government of UP (@UPGovt) August 3, 2024
This ensures fair and transparent land management.#NayeBharatKaNayaUP pic.twitter.com/CbjOnpSqyv
The bill [pdf] ensured that ‘nazul lands’ remained under government control by cancelling applications and court proceedings related to transfer of such land to private individuals and institutions.
It also provided provisions to extend the lease for leaseholders, who comply with lease terms and regularly pay rent.
After the bill was passed in the Vidhan Sabha, the BJP government faced opposition from the Samajwadi party, Congress as well as its allies.
Apna Dal leader Anupriya Patel and Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal (NISHAD) chief Sanjay Nishad objected to the enactment of the Uttar Pradesh Nazul Properties (Management and Utilisation for Public Purposes) Bill and dubbed it ‘unnecessary’ and ‘against the public sentiments’.
नजूल भूमि संबंधी विधेयक को विमर्श के लिए विधान परिषद की प्रवर समिति को आज भेज दिया गया है। व्यापक विमर्श के बिना लाये गये नजूल भूमि संबंधी विधेयक के बारे में मेरा स्पष्ट मानना है कि यह विधेयक न सिर्फ़ ग़ैरज़रूरी है बल्कि आम जन मानस की भावनाओं के विपरीत भी है।
— Anupriya Patel (@AnupriyaSPatel) August 1, 2024
The Opposition has claimed that the new law would lead to the eviction of long-standing residents and displace people who use ‘nazul lands’ for livelihood.
Amid the fearmongering about the Uttar Pradesh Nazul Properties (Management and Utilisation for Public Purposes) Bill, it was referred to the Select Committee of the Vidhan Parishad on Thursday (1st August).
Suresh Kumar Khanna, the UP Parliamentary Affairs Minister, has assured that no poor people would face eviction. He informed that existing leaseholders can get lease terms extended for up to 30 years if they are in good standing.
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh Nazul Properties (Management and Utilization for Public Purposes) Bill, 2024 passed by the State Assembly but sent to Select Committee.
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) August 2, 2024
Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya says, "Nazul Land came before the Legislative Council after being passed by Legislative… pic.twitter.com/g46TMil7lo
He further added that leaseholders who choose not to renew their lease can receive refunds from the government.
