Odisha Govt Withholds Decision to Amend Odisha Regulation-2 to Allow Transfer of Tribal Land

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government withheld the cabinet decision to amend some provisions of Regulation-2 of Odisha Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immovable Property Amendment Regulation to facilitate the transfer and mortgage of land belonging to scheduled tribes (STs) to the State government.

Opposition parties had come down heavily on the state government for this decision.

Through a message on X, State Revenue Minister Sudam Marndi stated that the government has put a hold on the amendment recently passed in the Cabinet meeting.

“The proposed Amendment to Regulation-2 of 1956 discussed in the Cabinet meeting held on 14th November 2023, regarding the transfer of Tribal lands, has been withheld,” Marndi wrote on his X handle.

The proposed Amendment to
Regulation-2 of 1956 discussed in
the Cabinet meeting held on 14th
November 2023, regarding transfer of Tribal lands has been withhold.

— SUDAM MARNDI (@MarndiSudam) November 16, 2023

On November 14, the State cabinet had approved amendments to some provisions of Regulation-2 of Odisha Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immovable Property Amendment Regulation to facilitate the transfer and mortgage of land belonging to scheduled tribes (ST).

The amendments allow a person from the ST community  to gift or exchange for a public purpose or obtain a loan by securing a mortgage in a public financial institution  with the written permission of the Sub Collector.  He may also transfer his land to a person not belonging to the ST category. If the sub-collector does not grant permission, then the person can appeal to the collector within six months and the decision will be final.