In a move that won appreciation from Opposition leaders as well, the Legislative Assembly on Friday passed the Karnataka Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which entitles agricultural labourers to be owners of their houses built on land not belonging to them.
This Bill provides for an agricultural labourer to be entitled for registration as the owner in respect of the dwelling house built on land not belonging to him/her.
Congress legislator from Mayakonda K. Shivamurthy had submitted a private member’s Bill seeking declaration of all human habitations as revenue villages by amending the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1964. Later, it was handed over to the Revenue Department, and Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa moved the Bill in the Assembly.
Mr. Thimmappa said, “While (D. Devaraj) Urs made the tiller the owner of the land, through this Bill, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah facilitated the dweller to become its owner.” The government would take immediate action to implement the decision, he assured the House.
Mr. Siddaramaiah said a special cell had been formed to declare all human habitations as revenue villages, and deputy commissioners were empowered to issue documents to agricultural labourers.
“The Congress had promised to declare all human habitations as revenue villages in its election manifesto,” said Mr. Siddaramaiah.
This Bill is expected to help thousands of people in Lambani tandas, Gollarahattis, Vaddarahattis, Kurubarahattis, Nayakarahattis, Majre gramas, haadis, doddis, palyas, camps, colonies or any other such unrecorded habitations falling within the jurisdiction of that village as they will get revenue village status in the days to come.
