Guv returns bill on regularising houses on govt land

Governor H R Bhardwaj has returned a bill which made provision for regularising houses built on government revenue land in rural areas prior to January 1, 2012, to the State government.

This has come as a major embarrassment to the BJP government as it was very keen to regularise the illegal constructions through the Karnataka Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill, 2012. The bill had sought to substitute the existing Section 94C of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964.

The legislature had passed the bill in June this year. Revenue Minister K S Eshwarappa had said the rules to be framed under the amended legislation would help families below poverty line to get their houses built on government land regularised.

Only those who have only one house would get the benefit, he had said. Similar benefit would be extended to those who have houses on government land in urban areas, he had said.

Bhardwaj said that the policy of regularisation of encroachment of government land would encourage illegal occupation of government land. The amendment would violate principles such as rule of law, equality before law, due process, majesty of law, dignity of courts, inalienable fundamental rights, directive principles, etc, enshrined in the Constitution.

The bill, extending the period till January, 2012, has given scope for further illegal occupation of government land. The amendment bill does not specifically prohibit grant/regularisation of common land.

The amendment does not serve any public good or social cause. It may lead to grabbing of government land, the governor said.