Karnataka brings in Act curbing forceful land grabbing

An Act to curb organised attempts to grab government land, with punishment up to three years for its violation, has come into force in Karnataka. The Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition Act came into effect from yesterday, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister TB Jayachandra said.

Those who contravene provisions of the Act — as also those who commit other offences in connection with land grabbing — shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year, but which may extend to three years, and with a fine that may be up to Rs 25,000, Jayachandra told reporters here.

The Act provides for a special court to try land grabbing cases, Jayachandra said and added that it will consist of a chairman and a four members to be appointed by the government. Asked about the timeframe to set up special courts, he said the government would soon approach Karnataka High Court Chief Justice DH Waghela and hold talks with him.

The chairman would be a judge and of the four members, two would be district judges and two who hold or have held the post not below the rank of a deputy commissioner of the district, Jayachandra said. He said the Act provides for measures to curb organised attempts to grab lands belonging to the government, Wakf or Hindu Religious institutions and Charitable endowments, local authorities or other statutory or non statutory bodies owned, controlled or managed by the government.