Odisha govt to promulgate ordinance to curb land grab

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Dec 24:

The Odisha Cabinet today approved a proposal to promulgate an ordinance to curb land grabbing activities in the state.

The ordinance will have the provison for imprisonment up to seven years and establishment of a special court with powers to take cognisance and try cases of land grabbing suo motu.

“Though the cabinet had passed an ordinance on this earlier, it took the decision to promulgate the Odisha Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Ordinance, 2014 again as the Bill could not be tabled in the State Assembly during the winter session earlier this month,” chief secretary GC Pati told reporters after the meeting.

He said the ordinance has provision to prosecuteland grabbers with a jail term from ranging one year to seven years with a fine which may go up to Rs 20,000.

“The offence shall be cognizable and non-bailable, he said, adding a special court would be set up to deal with the land grabbing cases,” he said.

The special court would be deemed to be a “Civil Court” and “Court of Session” for the purpose of the proposed Ordinance, he said.

The offence would be cognisable and non-bailable and no person would be released on bail without hearing public prosecutor, Pati said, adding, the burden of proof that he has not grabbed the land would lie with the person who is alleged to have committed land grabbing.

The cabinet also approved amendment to the Odisha State Armed Police Act which will be tabled in the next Assembly session.