On February 19, the Uttarakhand cabinet, led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, approved a new land law restricting the sale of horticultural and agricultural land to non-residents. This move comes in response to growing concerns among locals about demographic and cultural shifts caused by rampant land sales to outsiders.

“This historic step will protect the state’s resources, cultural heritage, and the rights of citizens,” said Dhami, emphasizing that the law aligns with public sentiment and will help preserve Uttarakhand’s original identity.

The revised law brings significant changes, reversing the previous 2018 regulations introduced by then-Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat. The major provisions include:

• Land Purchase Restrictions: Non-residents will no longer be allowed to buy horticultural and agricultural land in 11 out of Uttarakhand’s 13 districts. The only exceptions are Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar, where land purchases will still be permitted.

• DM’s Powers Curtailed: Previously, district magistrates (DMs) could approve land purchases beyond a certain limit, but under the new law, they will no longer have this authority. Instead, all such transactions will be regulated through a government-monitored online portal.

• Transparency and Accountability: The online portal will track land transactions involving non-residents, ensuring a transparent process and reducing fraudulent activities.

• Mandatory Affidavit: Outsiders seeking to purchase land in the state will be required to submit a legal affidavit to prevent misuse and irregularities.

Before this law, non-residents could purchase up to 250 square meters of land without permission and over 12.5 acres with permission for agricultural and orchard purposes. The new legislation completely abolishes this provision, making land acquisitions for outsiders much more restrictive.

With the bill set to be tabled during the ongoing budget session, all eyes are on the state assembly. If passed, this law will mark a significant shift in Uttarakhand’s land policies, ensuring that the state’s land remains in the hands of its people while preventing uncontrolled external influence.