J'khand govt withdraws amendment bills of CNT and SPT Acts

Jharkhand government today announced withdrawal of bills relating to the amendment of Chhotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act and Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Act as they had been returned by Governor Droupadi Murmu.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Saryu Roy told the media outside the assembly that the amendment bills of CNT and SPT Acts, which had been passed by the Jharkhand assembly in November 2016, were returned by the governor on May 24 this year saying that their objective was not clear and that they should be reconsidered.
Earlier, Speaker Dinesh Oraon read out the letter of the governor on the two bills in the house.

The proposed amendments to the two acts had sought to give rights to tribals to make commercial use of their lands, while ensuring that the ownership of land does not change. They also specified the sectors for which the government can take land from tribal on lease but were opposed by the main opposition parties and tribal organisations.