Odisha promulgates ordinance on land grabbing

Making land grabbing a "cognizable" offence, the state government has promulgated The Odisha Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Ordinance, 2015 with provision of imprisonment for one to seven years besides penalty against offenders.
"Land grabbing is now a cognizable offence in Odisha with criminal liability. The government promulgated the ordinance on May 26 after President's ascent," Revenue and disaster management secretary Mona Sharma said.
Justifying the ordinance, Sharma said the government brought this legislation to provide for prohibition of activity of land grabbing in the state. A Bill in this regard would be introduced in the assembly soon, she said.
The state government imposed the law through ordinance after finding that there are organised attempts on the part of the certain lawless persons operating individually and groups to grab either by force or by deceit or otherwise land belonging to the government or local authorities.

Stating that the government has decided to set up five special courts to deal with land grabbing cases, the revenue secretary said that land grabbing in any form is now declared unlawful.
The offences committed under the Ordinance will be made punishable with imprisonment for a minimum period of one year which may extend up to seven years and with fine which may extend up to Rs 20,000.

The Ordinance provides for establishment of a special court having powers to take suo motu cognisance and try every case arising out of an alleged act of land-grabbing or on application filed by any officer, authority or person.

The court will be deemed to be a "civil court" and "court of session" for the purpose of the Ordinance. The notification has defined who will be called land encroachers.
In the event of any individual or group of individuals illegally occupying government land trying to sell it or making efforts to sell it or illegally doing construction work on it action will be taken away from him/them.