Chapter X of Land Regulation under scanner

 Expert committee examining clauses of Chapter X of Regulation to prepare a draft seeking amendment

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Aug 14: Why isn’t land in Assam protected the way it is in Jammu & Kashmir and other States in the Northeast? The Asombhumi Suraksha Sonmilon (ASS) blames it on Chapter X of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886.

Chapter X of the Land Regulation has been under scanner as its clauses meant for the ‘protection of land’ fall short of clarity, and taking that advantage a section of people has incorporated some phrases to suit their purposes in place of ‘backward classes’. In the long run, people belonging to ‘backward classes’ as mentioned in the origil Land Regulation have failed to accrue any benefits from the very clauses of Regulation, leaders of the ASS feel.        

Addressing the media at Dispur Press Club in the city on Monday, ASS president Bimal Chandra Saikia and general secretaries Ashok Kumar Bora and Jitendra th Bora said: “Chapter X of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886 has made mention of protection of land belonging to backward classes in the State. We’ve formed a nine-member experts committee headed by Krish Kanta Mahanta to see if the clauses of Chapter X of the Regulation are at all necessary. The committee is going to examine and alyse each and every clause of Chapter X of the Regulation. If necessary, the committee will bring amendments in the Chapter and prepare its draft and make it public for the people of the State to have a thorough look into it. After incorporating opinions of the public, the draft will be submitted to the Government seeking amendment to Chapter X of the Land Regulation.”

The ASS leaders said: “We had a semir in Guwahati on Chapter X of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886 on August 12, 2017. Heavyweights like former Axam Xahitya Xabha (AXX) president Kaksen Deka, former District Magistrate Kak Sarma, former ACS officer Dongshi Barman, former Speaker of Assam Legislative Assembly Prithibi Majhi, senior advocate of Gauhati High Court HRA Choudhury, former IAS officer Lakhith Tamuli, senior advocate Jiten Payeng, senior advocate Gojanda Sahewal, advocate Bimal Chetri, former ACS officer Jagat Chandra Bora, senior advocate Krish Kanta Mahanta and others had to dissect Chapter X of the land Regulation and saw if there was any political conspiracy inherent in the Land Regulation. The expert committee was formed following a decision taken at the meeting.”

The other members of the committee are convener Bimal Chandra Saikia, Dongshi Barman, Prithibi Majhi, Gojanda Sahewal, Lakhith Tamuli, HRA Choudhury, Adip Phukan and Ashoke Kumar Bora.”