In a significant move, Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced in the Legislative Assembly that lands owned by Christian missionaries in the state will undergo thorough scrutiny. The Settlement Commissioner will conduct this investigation within the next three months.
Additionally, the minister revealed that data on land purchases by non-farmers in Dhule district is being compiled. To prevent illegal transactions, registration and stamp duty officers now have access to a centralized database to verify if a buyer holds a Satbara (7/12 land record extract) elsewhere in the state.
If outsiders are discovered to have unlawfully bought land in Dhule, a special system led by the Divisional Commissioner and other senior officials will be established to investigate. The land records of Christian missionaries in Nashik will be the first to undergo verification, with the Settlement Commissioner overseeing this process in the next three months.
A high-level committee, chaired by the Divisional Commissioner, will conduct a thorough investigation. This committee will comprise an official from the Settlement Commissioner’s office, a representative from the Police Department, and an official from the Inspector General of Registration (IGR), as per the minister’s statement.
The government is contemplating reclaiming private lands involved in irregularities, with a different approach planned for areas with residential developments or government buildings. A final decision will be made following the high-level probe over the next three months, Bawankule confirmed.
Discussing land laws, Bawankule highlighted that in Dhule district, individuals must be registered farmers to purchase agricultural land in the state as per tenancy laws. However, cases of non-farmers acquiring land have surfaced. He mentioned instances of outsiders purchasing land near Mopa Airport and emphasized the ongoing compilation of statewide data by the Settlement Commissioner to identify lands bought by non-farmers.
To streamline verification, stamp duty and registration officers now have systematic access to check the buyer’s landholding history across Maharashtra during the registration process. Bawankule assured that if outsiders are found to have breached rules in acquiring land in Dhule, a dedicated mechanism involving the Divisional Commissioner will be established for investigation and action.
