The Assam government on Wednesday approved a standard operating procedure (SOP) for inter-religious land transfer. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed that now all such land deals in the state will be directly monitored by the government. He said – “In a sensitive state like Assam, land transfer should be done with utmost caution. That is why all the proposals will come to the government and will be thoroughly investigated.” According to the Chief Minister, the final decision will be taken only after examining the source of the buyer’s funds, the impact of the land sale on the social structure of that area and aspects related to national security.
Procedure and security check
According to the new SOP, the proposal for any inter-religious land transfer will first have to be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of the concerned district. After this the Deputy Commissioner will send it to the Revenue Department, where a designated nodal officer will examine the documents. After this the proposal will be sent to the Special Branch of Assam Police. The Special Branch will investigate thoroughly whether there is any fraud, coercion or illegal element in the deal. Also, they will assess the legitimacy of the buyer’s source of funds, the impact on the social fabric and the potential threat to national security.
Final decision with the Deputy Commissioner
The report of the Special Branch will be submitted back to the government and then the Deputy Commissioner will take the final decision whether to approve or reject the land transfer. Chief Minister Sarma clarified that this step has been taken specifically to ensure that the land of the indigenous communities of Assam does not go into the hands of illegal settlers. Apart from this, the state government also said that if non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from outside Assam want to set up any institution by purchasing land, then they will also be thoroughly investigated. At the same time, such a process will not apply to local NGOs.
Emphasis on social and security balance
The main objective of this SOP is to ensure that any inter-religious land transfer does not have a negative impact on the social structure and national security of the state. The Assam government believes that such strict monitoring will not only prevent fraudulent and forced deals, but will also protect the communal harmony and cultural identity of the state. This decision is being considered another bold step of the Assam government, which will bring transparency in the process of land transfer and curb illegal activities.
