Guwahati: The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) has strongly criticised the government’s recent clarification on the formation and objectives of the Assam Land Governance Commission, calling it misleading and evasive.
In a detailed press statement issued on Tuesday, AJP President Lurinjyoti Gogoi, General Secretary Jagadish Bhuyan, and Vice President CK Das jointly raised concerns about the government’s intentions regarding land law reforms.
On June 4, the AJP organised a press conference to question the constitution and scope of the newly-formed Assam Land Governance Commission.
The party demanded an extension of the deadline for public opinion submissions to 30 September 2025.
However, the state government responded by extending the date to 30 June, issuing a press statement signed by the Secretary of the Revenue and Land Department, denying the allegations.
In its response, AJP rebutted the government’s claims point-by-point, alleging that the government was misrepresenting facts to justify the possible withdrawal or dilution of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886.
The AJP rejected the government’s assertion that the reforms were based on the recommendations of the Justice (Retd.) Biplab Kumar Sharma Committee.
The party pointed out that, in clause 7.6.4 of its report, the committee specifically stated that the provisions of the 1886 Act must be “strictly followed” and did not recommend its repeal.
Furthermore, the AJP highlighted that the committee had noted the government’s repeated violations of the Act.
The party raised doubts about the status of the Sharma Committee’s report, questioning whether it had been accepted by the central government and whether the Joint Secretary from the Union Home Ministry, who served as Member Secretary, had signed the report.
Without clarity on these points, the AJP argued, the government’s reliance on the committee’s recommendations is unfounded.
On the government’s denial of any intent to dilute land rights for tribal and reserved communities, the AJP questioned the reported move to allocate over 1600 acres of tribal belt land near Borduwar Tea Estate in Palashbari for the construction of a satellite township.
The party argued that this contradicted the government’s claims and indicated a covert attempt to seize tribal land.
The AJP also criticised the government’s characterisation of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886 as a “colonial” relic in need of repeal.
The party reminded that the Act has provided crucial safeguards, including the ban on the transfer of agricultural land to non-agriculturists since 1927.
It alleged that changes made by the state government a decade ago to remove this restriction have facilitated land grabs by outsiders and corporate interests.
Citing pages 57 and 58 of the Sharma Committee report, the AJP underscored that legal amendments allowing land classification changes and the transfer of agricultural land to non-agriculturists violated the 1886 Act.
The AJP also raised concerns about the future of handwritten land records and Jamabandi documents, urging the government to ensure these crucial documents, vital for resolving longstanding land disputes, are preserved.
On the issue of land acquisition, the AJP questioned whether the state government intended to override central law through the Land Governance Commission, given that land acquisition falls under the purview of central legislation.
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Reiterating its demand, the AJP called once again for an extension of the deadline for public submissions until 30 September 2025 and for the draft report of the Assam Land Governance Commission to be made public.
Emphasising the sensitivity of land issues for the people of Assam, the AJP warned the government against making hasty or opaque decisions that could undermine the rights and security of indigenous communities.
“People must be taken into confidence before any major changes in land laws are made. We urge the government to uphold transparency and accountability in all land-related processes,” AJP leaders stated.
The press conference was also attended by AJP secretaries Chittaranjan Basumatary and Amrit Khatoniar.
