Joint Parl panel on Land Bill granted 6th extension

The Joint Committee of Parliament, examining the contentious Land Bill, was on Wednesday granted a sixth extension of its term for over four months on grounds that several states are yet to furnish details to it on a clause relating to compensation.

Panel chairman SS Ahluwalia (BJP) moved a motion in the Lok Sabha to grant time to the committee till the first week of the Monsoon Session, which was passed by a voice vote.

“That this House do extend time for presentation of the Report of the Joint Committee on the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015 upto the last day of the first week of the Monsoon Session, 2016,” the resolution read.

On Monday, the panel had decided to seek a fresh extension as members noted that many states have not furnished details on the status of land acquisition proceedings that have lapsed or may lapse in terms of Section 24(2) of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013. The law of 2013 had become applicable for national highway projects from January 2015 and there has been a large number of disputes by affected owners, who were seeking higher compensation.