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Checks by the Special Branch of the Assam Police to examine “coercion” or illegality, source of funds for the purchase, potential effect on “social cohesion”, and “national security” implications: these are part of a Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) approved by the Assam Cabinet Wednesday to regulate the transfer of land between members of different religions.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said this will also apply to NGOs based outside Assam which are seeking to buy land in the state.
Last year, Sarma had said that the state could make the CM’s consent necessary for land sale permissions for land transactions between Hindus and Muslims. This featured in Finance Minister Ajanta Neog’s Budget speech this year as well when she cited “sensitivities involved in land transfer matters in the state” and said that “all cases of inter-religion land transfers between individuals will be given effect only after due approval of the state government”.
The SOP requires that when a proposal for a land transfer is received by a Sub-Divisional Magistrate, in the case of a land transfer proposal between people of two different religions, they will forward it to the DC’s office after carrying out the usual checks and verification.
Sarma told reporters after the Cabinet meeting: “The DC will immediately send it to the Revenue Department of the state government. There will be a nodal officer in the Revenue Department. After the Revenue Department gets the proposal, the nodal officer will send it to the Special Branch of the Assam Police. The Special Branch will examine four things. First, whether there is any element of fraud, coercion or illegal transfer. Second, if someone wants to buy the land, what is the source of money? Whether it is white or black money. Third, what kind of effect will this have on the social cohesion of the place. Fourth, they will also examine (the land transaction) from the (point of) view of national security.”
According to the SOP, the proposal will be sent to the state government with the Special Branch’s inputs, which will send it back to the DC for a final decision.
“This will also be applicable to NGOs from outside the state. In the last few days, we are seeing that from places like Kerala, lots of NGOs are buying land in Assam and they are holding events which in the future could be detrimental to national security. There’s no need for any procedure for Assam NGOs but for those from outside — whether they seek to buy land to set up an education institute, nursing college, medical college — they have to go through the same procedure,” the CM said.
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