Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Jul 9: Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday told the Legislative Assembly that the government will conduct a comprehensive probe into illegal transfers of tribal land to non-tribals across the state. A detailed report will be submitted within three months, he assured.

The statement came in response to a calling attention motion raised by MLA Rajendra Gavit, who flagged concerns over the ongoing issue of land rights violations involving tribal communities.

Bawankule highlighted that the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code (1974) protects tribal land ownership. However, any illegal transfers to non-tribals that occurred between 1974 and 2004 can still be contested and reversed until the year 2034.

Between 2021 and 2023, the government found 617 cases of illegal land transfers. Of these, 404 parcels have already been returned to rightful tribal owners, while 213 cases remain pending and are being reviewed by respective district collectors. The minister also noted that a complete list of these cases will be shared with all MLAs.

Additionally, 1,628 more cases of disputed tribal land transfers have been flagged by MLAs across various revenue divisions — including 732 from the Konkan region alone. These will be investigated by Divisional Commissioners, and findings will be tabled in the House before the next assembly session.

Clarifying land transfer norms, Bawankule said that agricultural tribal land can only be transferred to other tribals. For commercial, industrial, or residential use, the law mandates verification against 34 criteria before any transfer is approved.

He called on all MLAs from tribal constituencies, along with the Tribal Development Minister, to assist in identifying and addressing any remaining violations. “We welcome any new complaints and assure a full investigation into each case,” he concluded.