K'taka notifies land reform amendment law; soon to frame rules

The Karnataka government will soon frame rules for timely implementation of the amendments brought to a law that aims to give agri-labourers rights over houses build on land not belonging to them prior to January 1, 1979, a Congress legislator K Shivamurthy Nayak said today.
On October 28, the state government notified the Karnataka Land Reforms (Amendment) Act 2016 after getting the nod from the President of India.
The move will benefit 62,000 unrecorded inhabitants like Lambani Tanda, Gollarahatti, Vaddarahatti, Kurubarhatti, Nayakarahatti, Majare Grama, Haadi, Doddi, Palya, Camp, Colony among others.
"The landmark Act has been notified. Rules will be framed soon so that it is implemented in a time-bound manner," SC (Scheduled Castes) and ST (Scheduled Tribes) Welfare Legislature Committee Chairman Shivamurthy told media after meeting the Congress party chief in this regard.

A separate fund will be set aside for providing basic amenities like road, public transport and drinking water once the inhabitants come under the revenue record, he said, adding that required budget for this purpose will be decided in the next session of the state legislature.
Neighbouring states Andhra Pradesh, Telangana as well as Uttar Pradesh have shown interest to replicate this in their states, he added.

As per the Act, the government will give a certificate of ownership to those agri-labourers who are 'ordinarily' residing in houses build on a land not belonging to him prior to January 1, 1979.

The eligible labourers will have to register as owners of the house within a year from the date of commencement of the Act. They will be compensated in cash and the state will not incur extra expenditure for this.
Shivamurthy, MLA from Mayakonda constituency in Davanagere district, recalled that he was first to move a private member bill in this regard in 2013-14 and had to withdraw it after the state government promised to bring the amendments to Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961.