Guwahati, 22nd March: To preempt potential communal tensions during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Assam government has implemented a temporary halt on granting No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for land sales involving individuals from different religious backgrounds. This proactive measure, in effect for three months, responds to intelligence warnings of fraudulent land transfers aimed at stoking communal discord.
The directive, issued by the Revenue and Disaster Management (Registration) Department on March 7, underscores concerns over vested interests exploiting land transactions to incite communal conflicts. With Assam preparing for elections across its 14 parliamentary constituencies in three phases, the suspension of NOC grants under Section 21A of the Registration Act 1908 seeks to uphold law and order during the electoral process.
Signed by Gyanendra Dev Tripathi, Principal Secretary to the Revenue Department, the notification mandates the suspension of NOC grants for land sales involving parties of differing religious affiliations. However, District Commissioners may exercise discretion in granting exceptions, contingent upon the prior approval of the Inspector General of Registration, Assam, ensuring such transactions do not risk legal or social unrest.
This measure follows the state’s implementation of the third phase of Mission Basundhra, a program facilitating the conversion of government-owned land to ‘myadi patta,’ granting ownership rights to indigenous communities. Applicants must demonstrate multi-generational residency in Assam and uninterrupted land occupation for a minimum of three years to qualify under this initiative.
Earlier concerns raised by All India United Democratic Front MLA Ashraful Hussain in the Assam Assembly regarding the exclusion of Muslims from Mission Basundhara prompted clarification from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Sarma clarified that only indigenous individuals, such as the Moran, Matak, and Chutia tribes, are eligible under the mission, effectively excluding landless Bengali-origin Muslims, often referred to as ‘Miya.’
Assam, with a significant Muslim population of 1.06 crores according to the 2011 Census, grapples with intricate demographic and identity dynamics, particularly in regions where Bengali-origin Muslims are concentrated, such as riverine areas.
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