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LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF LAND REFORM IN INDIA

Immediately after Independence, land reform occupied centre-stage in Indian policy as it was
considered essential for the process of nation building. In the current neo-liberal framework
of economic development, land reform has unfortunately taken a back seat. However, with
the recent trend across the continent, of increasing landlessness and protests, both violent
and otherwise, against the government’s attitude, it is necessary to bring land reform agenda
back on the table.

The Constitution embodies the need for land reform in the Directive Principles of State
Policy. Article 39(b) explicitly highlights the need of the state to ensure “that the ownership
and control of material resources of the community are so distributed as best to subserve the
common good.” Among other things, Part IV also emphasizes upon securing to all citizens
an adequate means of livelihood and a decent standard of living. Land reforms legislations
have been placed in the ninth schedule to guarantee their speedy implementation.

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

assistance of the civil society groups to create cooperatives for transfer of technology and
promotion of entrepreneurship. Periodic assessments are carried out by research groups to
determine the effectiveness of the CARL and the CARP (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Programme).

Unfortunately, almost everywhere, land reform has met with strong re Bl

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sistance from the landed elite. During the Tebhaga movement in West Bengal, the resistance
to amendments in the Bengal Tenancy Act was so great, that the government had to
abandon the project1. Enormous political will is the key to attaining fruition of the land
reform agenda. Andhra Pradesh, where land reform is being pursued with renewed vigour
since 2005, with an unprecedented efficiency and transparency, is a brilliant example of what
political will can achieve.

Experience further shows that simply redistributing land from the rich to the poor may not be
enough to attain the objective of a more egalitarian rural society. First, an important
problem that must be dealt with is the protection of the redistributed land against land-grab.
Often, due to greater bargaining power and the use of muscle power, landowners have been
able to regain the land allotted to the farmers, either through sale or through force.
therefore, land reform law cannot stop only at redistribution of the land, but must also ensure
their security.

Secondly, the land that is redistributed may not be sufficient to meet the basic needs of those
who have newly acquired it. For instance, Ekta Parishad reports that in many cases where
land was allotted to SC/ST families, the land was useless because either the plot belonged to
somebody else or was on stony, infertile land. Thus, any land reform measure must aim to
procure ‘secure and productive’ land and redistribution rights. A bottom up approach is

1
D. Bandhopadyay, Tebhaga Movement in Bengal: A Retrospect, Economic and Political Weekly, 13
October 2001.
necessary for success in land reform. Legislators must ensure participation of the farmers in
deciding boundaries, noting claims and complaints and recording opinions and objectives of
the village members. In Madhya Pradesh, the formation of district-level task forces to settle
land related grievances greatly aided the reform process. In Kerala, the government officers
went to the villages and spoke to the farmers to verify boundaries; in West Bengal the
government conducted camps to spread awareness and familiarise them with official
procedures.

Landlessness is directly linked to rural poverty and causes a 'spiral of impoverishments'.

Land is not just a commodity, but an essential component of human dignity and well-being.
The most useful remedy lies in the drafting and implementation of effective land reform
legislation, which seeks to redistribute land fairly and equitably among the rural masses.
Unfortunately, political will to reform property rights in land has been weak. Land reform
legislation in India, where it exists, is riddled with gaps, inconsistencies and loopholes and in
dire need of review and reform. Additionally, a more holistic legal framework is required,
which will emphasise upon a comprehensive package that includes support policies and
protection of vulnerable groups.

To summarize, Land reform is the major step of government to assist people living under
adverse conditions. It is basically redistribution of land from those who have excess of land
to those who do not possess with the objective of increasing the income and bargaining
power of the rural poor. The purpose of land reform is to help weaker section of society and
do justice in land distribution. Government land policies are implemented to make more
rational use of the scarce land resources by affecting conditions of holdings, imposing
ceilings and grounds on holdings so that cultivation can be done in the most economical
manner.

It is time we thought seriously of land reforms when especially a "humble farmer" is on top.
If in the new century we still talk of reforms without effective implementation we will su
society. First, an important problem that must be dealt with is the protection of the
redistributed land against land-grab. Often, due to greater bargaining power and the use of
muscle power, landowners have been able to regain the land allotted to the farmers, either
through sale society. First, an important problem that must be dealt with is the protection of
the redistributed land against land-grab. Often, due to greater bargaining power and the use
of muscle power, landowners have been able to regain the land allotted to the farmers, either
through sale society. First, an important problem that must be dealt with is the protection of
the redistributed land against land-grab. Often, due to greater bargaining power and the use
of muscle power, landowners have been able to regain the land allotted to the farmers, either
through sale society. First, an important problem that must be dealt with is the protection of
the redistributed land against land-grab. Often, due to greater bargaining power and the use
of muscle power, landowners have been able to regain the land allotted to the farmers, either
through sale society. First, an important problem that must be dealt with is the protection of
the redistributed land against land-grab. Often, due to greater bargaining power and the use
of muscle power, landowners have been able to regain the land allotted to the farmers, either
through sale society. First, an important problem that must be dealt with is the protection of
the redistributed land against land-grab. Often, due to greater bargaining power and the use
of muscle power, landowners have been able to regain the land allotted to the farmers, either
through sale society. First, an important problem that must be dealt with is the protection of
the redistributed land against land-grab. Often, due to greater bargaining power and the use
of muscle power, landowners have been able to regain the land allotted to the farmers, either
through sale rely miss the bus.

Sambhu Ram Yadav v. Hanuman Das Khatry, 2001 6 SCC 1

State of Punjab v. Ram Singh, AIR 1992 SC 2188

Nortanmal Chauaisia v. M.R. Murli, 2004 AIR SCW 2894

P an Advocate, AIR 1963 SC 1313

Hikmat Ali Khan v. Ishwar Prasad Arya and Others, AIR 1997 SC 864

Shambhu Ram Yadav v. Hanuman Das Khatry, AIR 2001 SC 2509

P.D. Gupta v. Ram Murti and Anr., AIR 1998 SC 283

Prof. KrishanrajGoswami v. Vishwanath D. Mukashikar D.C. Appeal No. 40/1995

In re: Vinay Chandra Mishra, (1995) 2 SCC 534

Supreme Court B

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schedule to guarantee their speedy implementation.

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

assistance of the civil society groups to create cooperatives for transfer of technology and
promotion of entrepreneurship. Periodic assessments are carried out by research groups to
determine the effectiveness of the CARL and the CARP (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Programme).

schedule to guarantee their speedy implementation.

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

assistance of the civil society groups to create cooperatives for transfer of technology and
promotion of entrepreneurship. Periodic assessments are carried out by research groups to
determine the effectiveness of the CARL and the CARP (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Programme).

schedule to guarantee their speedy implementation.

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

assistance of the civil society groups to create cooperatives for transfer of technology and
promotion of entrepreneurship. Periodic assessments are carried out by research groups to
determine the effectiveness of the CARL and the CARP (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Programme).