Centre to re-promulgate land ordinance for third time

The government will seek to re-promulgate the land ordinance for the third time, with the Land Acquisition Bill being referred to a joint parliamentary committee.

Union Minister for Rural Development Chaudhary Birender Singh had earlier said that there were 13 legislations which are already out of the purview of the current 2013 Land Acquisition legislation and reportedly said that, "to include those we issued that ordinance, and now for the continuation of that ordinance if we have to issue another fresh ordinance, it would be (issued)."

Faced with stiff resistance from opposition and allies alike, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government had earlier on May 12 referred the Land Acquisition Bill to the joint committee.

The ordinance has already been promulgated twice: first on December 31, 2014 and second on April 3, 2015. The current ordinance will lapse on June 3 and the Monsoon Session of the Parliament is expected to begin in mid-July.