Chandigarh, November 2 – Haryana Cabinet which met under the Chairmanship of Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal has given approval to the Policy for Fixation of Market Rate of land in the State for All the Departments of the Government, Boards, Corporations, Panchayati Raj Institutions & Urban Local Bodies.

The State Government had identified the need to provide a policy for fixation of market rate of land in the State for all the Departments of the Government, Boards, Corporations, Panchayati Raj Institutions & Urban Local Bodies. In the absence of crystal clear guidelines, many Departments of the Government, including their entities have been experiencing difficulties in transferring their unutilized lands of minor nature, including its abandoned paths etc. to the private bodies, being situated in between their lands and is thus, a stumbling block in the fast development of their projects, besides, affecting the revenue of the State to a considerable extent. Moreover, there is encroachment or authorized/unauthorized possession over such lands/immovable properties resulting in unfruitful litigation under the different relevant statutes. Besides this, there is involvement of human resources without any tangible results. Therefore, there is a need to provide a Policy in the matter under the Revenue Department, being Nodal Department.

The matter relates to fixation of Market Rate of land in the State for all the Departments of the Government, Boards, Corporations, Panchayati Raj Institutions & Urban Local Bodies by framing a policy and constituting a Standing Committee, therein, comprising of Divisional Commissioner of the concerned Division; District Revenue Officer of the concerned District; One Departmental Officer; three valuers registered from amongst Income Tax Department, State Bank of India and Government owned Insurance Companies and empanelled by Revenue and Disaster Management Department too. Finally, the Standing Committee shall work out the mean of the valuation made by the three valuers with the stipulation that the final market value determined shall not be less than the Collector rates fixed under the Indian Stamp Act, 1899 for the registration of sale deeds in the area, where the land is situated. In case if the concerned builder/private entity is ready to pay double the amount of the latest Collector rate fixed under the Indian Stamp Act, 1899 for the registration of sale deeds of the land under reference or average of two deeds of highest amount during the preceding year in the revenue estate pertaining to the same kind of land/immovable property, whichever is higher, the appropriate decision can be taken by the concerned Department with the approval of the High Power Land Purchase Committee and the other procedure prescribed in the policy shall not be applicable, with the clarification that this will apply to sale only by the Government or Local Authority. It is further made clear that in case, the builder / private entity has obtained 'Change of Land Use' (CLU) under the Punjab Scheduled Roads and Controlled, Areas Restriction of Unregulated Development Act, 1963 (Punjab Act No. 41 of 1963) and is desirous of taking unutilized lands of minor nature including abandoned paths of Government Departments including Boards; Corporations; Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies, the Collector Rates fixed under the Indian Stamp Act, 1899 for the commercial or residential or institutional or industrial land, shall be applicable. Further, it shall also apply to requesting entities, who have obtained a licence under the Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Act, 1975 (Haryana Act No. 8 of 1975).