The state government, which has mooted a bill to regularise excess land, will not issue a certificate of ownership to the owner if the government land is adjacent to such excess land and if granting ownership would result in a reduction in the extent of government land. This condition has been included in the Kerala Excess Land in Private Holdings (Regularisation) Bill, 2025, which the Secretariat of the Kerala Legislature has notified. 

The bill has provisions to provide a certificate of ownership in accordance with law to individuals who are in possession and enjoyment of excess land when the land records are authenticated through digital survey in the State. The government plans to avoid unnecessary litigation by protecting the government land and to provide for the regularisation of ownership of such excess land in possession and enjoyment of individuals, with the introduction of the bill.

 As per the provisions of the bill, on completion of the digital resurvey and after making the survey records effective, if it is found that a person is in possession of excess land, such person may duly submit an application for obtaining the right over such excess land on the basis of the conditions, provisions and rules made under the Act. If the application so received is found to be correct on the basis of facts, documents and evidence, a certificate of ownership will be granted.

 The certificate of ownership shall be the authoritative document of such excess land and it serves as the basic document for the transfer of such excess land, the bill says. The bill lays down an exception if the government land is adjacent to such excess land claimed by a person. In such cases certificate of ownership shall not be granted for such excess land if it causes any reduction in the extent of government land, according to the bill.

The state cabinet has earlier approved the draft bill. The ownership certificate can also be reviewed if the authority finds any error or concludes that it has been granted on the basis of false documents. The government stressed the need to regularise excess land in the state after it was reported during the digital survey that individuals are in possession and enjoyment of excess land undisputed, lawfully and without any objection.

The government concluded that it is appropriate to grant a certificate of ownership regarding such excess land after completing due procedures to respective individuals. The government decided to provide provisions for ensuring greater accuracy of land records by granting certificate of ownership to individuals in possession and thereby protecting the government property, according to the notification.

 The digital survey process, which is being carried out in Kerala, is in its final stage. Once digital survey process gets completed in each village, the digital survey records will become the authoritative document regarding the land.