HP's revenue appellate court tells govt to crack down outsiders violating land use

Shimla: Non–Himachalis, who had purchased land in Himachal Pradesh for residential use, after getting relaxations under Section 118 of HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act 1972 but have diverted same for commercial use, will find themselves in trouble now.

A top revenue appellate court headed by Financial Commissioner (appeal) Sanjay Gupta has ruled that those outsiders who had changed the status of their residential properties to commercial will be required to seek fresh permissions under Section 118 of HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act 1972. He has asked the Additional Chief secretary (revenue) to direct all Deputy Commissioners to launch a special drive to detect violations of the Section 118 .

"All such cases in which the non-agriculturists have purchased the name in the state for residential purchases and after raising huge structures they are using such properties for commercial purchases, or let – out these on rent or converted into guest houses without obtaining necessary permissions of the government changing the land use,should be detected," ordered Financial commissioner .

Gupta had upheld the order of the Dvisional Commissioner Kangra and Deputy Commissioner, Kangra wherein they have ordered vesting of a prime property at Jawalamukhi in Kangra district to the government as the owners had violated the Section 118. They had obtained the permission under the HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act for a residential house but converted it into a guest house.

The non-Himachalis i.e outsiders are allowed to purchase land in the state only with permission of the state government as section 118 of HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act debars sale and purchase of land.