Land rights group protests Gujarat move to drop consent, social impact assessment for land acquisition

By A Representative
In a sharp critique of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Gujarat Amendment) Bill, 2016, passed in the Gujarat state assembly on Thursday, Jameen Adhikar Aandolan Gujarat (JAAG), a land rights network of civil society organisations, has taken strong exception to "dropping" the consent clause and social impact assessment (SIA) provisions of the Central Land Acquisition Act (LAA), 2013.
Pointing out that the Gujarat government has brought back Land Acquisition Ordinance, 2015 dropped by the Government of India under popular pressure, JAAG has described the state government move as "anti-farmer face", pointing out, "The meagre safety and rights that were guaranteed to the farmers by the LAA, 2013 are set to be snatched away, once and for all in Gujarat."
Providing a point-by-point critique of the Gujarat bill, "Amendment 3 of the Bill exempts projects listed in section 10 A from requirements of 'Consent of affected families' and 'Social Impact Assessment', over and above those contained within the definition of ‘public purpose’, which were the heart and soul of the LAA, 2013."
"The new exemptions", said the critique, include (a) Such projects vital to national security or defence of India and every part thereof, including preparation for defence, or defence production; (b) Rural infrastructure including electrification; (c) Affordable housing and housing for the poor peopl (d) Industrial corridors; and (e) Infrastructure and social infrastructure projects including projects under public private partnership where the ownership of land continues to vest with the Government."
Further, said JAAG, in a statement issued in Ahmedabad, "Section 23A has been inserted after Section 23, which essentially gives the district collector the power to decide on the matter of land acquisition and compensation amount without enquiry, with mutual consent of the parties."
Then, it said, "Section 24(2) stipulated that in cases where land had been acquired under the provisions of LAA of 1894 but physical possession had not been taken or compensation had not been paid, then the proceedings were to be deemed to have lapsed and the matter would have to be started afresh under the provisions of this Act."
"The Gujarat bill amends this provision by adding a proviso which essentially means that any delay on account of litigation (court mandated stay or injunction), or where the compensation amount lies unclaimed in the court, then such period will not be factored into the computation of the period of limitation", JAAG said.
JAAG added, "Section 87 stipulated when and under what conditions a government officer could be held guilty and proceeded against in a court of law. It removed the earlier constraint, viz. 'the previous sanction of the appropriate Government' and would therefore act as a deterrent to bureaucrat-businessman nexus which was always detrimental to farmers’ interests."
"This section has been amended by the Ordinance and restores the previous limitation of government sanction for prosecution of a government employee", it pointed out, adding, "The amendments in the Bill are a clear statement of the intentions of the government about its priorities and its leanings, if any is yet required."
Pointing out that "the industrialists and the corporate lobby had made it amply clear that it was ‘displeased’ with the LAA, 2013 and that it needed action, and fast", JAAG said, "The Gujarat government has obeyed the dictats."
"The Gujarat government and the ruling party which, since the recent debacle in the local government elections, has been crying itself hoarse about its rural and farmer centric policies and programmes has clearly shown its true colours", it underlined, adding, "It never did and does not have the interests of the rural and the farming community at heart."
Demanding that the amendments be "dropped and the central LAA, 2013 be adopted in its place", the statement said, "We also ask the opposition Congress, whether it will go beyond mere photo-ops and do something concrete to fight this piece of legislation, as it had led the campaign against the Ordinance at the national level."
Among those who have signed the JAAG statement include Sagar Rabari and Persis Ginwalla of JAAG; Ashok Shrimali, Secretary General, Mines, Minerals and People; Jimmy C Dabhi of the Human Resource Development Centre, Ahmedabad; Mahesh Pandya of the Paryavaran Mitra; Right to Information activist Pankti Jog; and Rohit Prajapati and Krishnakant of the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti.

Comments

Nepal votes amid regional rivalry: Why New Delhi is watching closely

By Nava Thakuria* As Nepal holds an early national election on Thursday (5 March 2026), the people of northeast India, along with other regional observers, are watching the proceedings closely. The vote was necessitated after the government of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli collapsed in September 2025 following widespread anti-government protests. The election will determine the composition of the 275-member House of Representatives, originally scheduled for 2027, under the stewardship of an interim government led by former Supreme Court justice Sushila Karki.

'Policy long overdue': Coalition of 29 experts tells JP Nadda to act on SC warning label order

By A Representative In a significant development for public health, the Supreme Court of India has directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to seriously consider implementing mandatory front-of-pack warning labels on pre-packaged food products. The order, passed by a bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan on February 10, 2026, comes as the Court expressed dissatisfaction with the regulatory body's progress on the issue.

Vaccination vs screening: Policy questions raised on cervical cancer strategy

By A Representative A public policy expert has written to Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda raising a series of concerns regarding the national Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign launched on February 28 for 14-year-old girls.

From plagiarism to proxy exams: Galgotias and systemic failure in education

By Sandeep Pandey* Shock is being expressed at Galgotias University being found presenting a Chinese-made robotic dog and a South Korean-made soccer-playing drone as its own creations at the recently held India AI Impact Summit 2026, a global event in New Delhi. Earlier, a UGC-listed journal had published a paper from the university titled “Corona Virus Killed by Sound Vibrations Produced by Thali or Ghanti: A Potential Hypothesis,” which became the subject of widespread ridicule. Following the robotic dog controversy coming to light, the university has withdrawn the paper. These incidents are symptoms of deeper problems afflicting the Indian education system in general. Galgotias merely bit off more than it could chew.

Development vs community: New coal politics and old conflicts in Madhya Pradesh

By Deepmala Patel* The Singrauli region of Madhya Pradesh, often described as “India’s energy capital,” has for decades been a hub of coal mining and thermal power generation. Today, the Dhirouli coal mine project in this district has triggered widespread protests among local communities. In recent years, the project has generated intense controversy, public opposition, and significant legal and social questions. This is not merely a dispute over one mine; it raises a larger question—who pays the price for energy development? Large corporate beneficiaries or the survival of local communities?

The new anti-national certificate: If Arundhati Roy is the benchmark, count me in

By Dr. Mansee Bal Bhargava* Dear MANIT Alumni Network Committee, “Are you anti-national?” I encountered this fascinating—some may say intimidating—question from an elderly woman I barely know, an alumna of Maulana Azad College of Technology (MACT, now Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology - MANIT), Bhopal, and apparently one of the founders of the MACT (now MANIT) Alumni Network. The authority with which she posed the question was striking. “How much anti-national are you? What have you done for the Alumni Network Committee to identify you as anti-national?” When I asked what “anti-national” meant to her and who was busy certifying me as such, the response came in counter-questions.

Minority concerns mount: RTI reveals govt funded Delhi religious meet in December

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* Indian Muslims have expressed deep concern over what they describe as rising hate speech and hostility against their community under the BJP-led government in India. A recent flashpoint was the event organised by Sanatan Sanstha titled “Sanatan Rashtra Shankhnad Mahotsav” in New Delhi on 13–14 December 2025.

From neglect to progress: The story of Ranavara’s community-led development

By Bharat Dogra Visitors to Ranavara, a remote village in Kherwara block of Udaipur district, are often surprised by its multi-dimensional progress. The village today is known for its impressive school building, regenerated pastures, expanded tree cover, and extensive water conservation and supply works. These achievements are the outcome of sustained community efforts over several years, demonstrating how small, consistent initiatives can lead to significant change.

The ultimate all-time ODI XI: A personal selection of icons across eras

By Harsh Thakor* This is my all-time best XI chosen for ODI (One Day International) cricket: 1. Adam Gilchrist (W) – The absolute master blaster who could create the impact of exploding gunpowder with his electrifying strokeplay. No batsman was more intimidating in his era. Often his knocks decided the fate of games as though the result were premeditated. He escalated batting strike rates to surreal realms.

Search This Blog