Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Assembly subject committee has approved the crucial amendments in the Land Assignment Act, which would benefit a large number of people, including house owners. As per the explanation given by the committee, houses built on patta land, where such constructions are allowed, need not be regularised. Plots for which pattayam (land deeds) were allotted without specifying the purpose are also exempted from regularisation. The notification including these explanations will be published within a week.

However, buildings constructed on land assigned solely for the cultivation of rubber and other crops have to be regularised. Meanwhile, the fee of 10 per cent imposed as per the amended rules for the regularisation of constructions for tourism has been reduced to 5 per cent following discussions in the subject committee.

Another change relates to the fee imposed on regularising private hospitals on Patta land. Instead of multiple slabs, the fee will be 10 per cent for all private hospital buildings having an area of over 3,000 square feet.

Landowners lacking title deeds can apply for regularisation based on a ‘nijasthithi certificate’ (occupancy certificate). The subject committee has also recommended to the government to open new offices to accelerate the procedures related to regularisation.

“Considering the general status of the title deeds, nearly 95 per cent of the houses in the state will not require regularisation,” said Revenue Minister K Rajan.

Online applications
The minister said that a facility to submit online applications for the regularisation of land would be available soon on the Revenue Department’s portal www.revenue.kerala.gov.in. 

“ Applicants will have to submit an affidavit on an e-stamp paper worth ₹50. The regularisation certificate will be issued in a time-bound manner, similar to income tax returns. If approval is received to open new offices to carry out regularisation procedures, the first one will come up in Idukki,” said the minister.

Forest watchers deprived of arrest powers
A meeting of the Assembly subject committee also decided to take away the power enjoyed by watchers under the Forest Department for the last 64 years to arrest violators of forest rules.

The Kerala Forest (Amendment) Bill, introduced in the Assembly on Thursday had designated 15 posts in the Forest Department, ranging from watcher to principal chief conservator of forests, as ‘officer’. However, when the Opposition raised objections, Forest Minister A K Saseendran replied that the matter would be referred to the subject committee.

The recommendation of the subject committee will be presented before the Assembly and the Bill will be submitted to the Governor for approval. Once the Bill receives the Governor’s clearance, it will become law.