The Meghalaya government has no information that land owners along the inter-state border registered their land with Assam.
“As of now, the government is not aware that there has been registration in the border areas with the Assam government,” Meghalaya deputy chief minister in-charge revenue, R.C. Laloo told the Assembly here on Wednesday.
Laloo was replying to a question raised by opposition legislator, Jemino Mawthoh during question hour on the second day of the three-day winter session.
Mawthoh also reminded the House that even the Meghalaya High Court had passed a ruling in 2014 directing for proper registration of land sale deed to avoid loss to government revenue.
In its verdict on May 21, 2014, the court has ruled that transfer of land on the basis of kutcha sale deeds cannot be allowed by law, since the Registration Act, 1908 has been extended to the entire state making it mandatory for all sales deed to be registered to avoid loss to government revenue and check manipulations.
The court directed all deputy commissioners, registrars as well as autonomous district councils to follow proper registration procedure and not to entertain transfer of land based on kutcha sale deeds since the Registration Act, 1908 has been made applicable to the entire Meghalaya through a notification dated July 22, 1982.
To query by another opposition MLA, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit on which land registration has legal binding whether with the one registered with the autonomous district councils or state government, Laloo only said, “the issue would be properly examined in consultation with the law department.”
There are people who got their land registered with the autonomous district council, as well as with the state government under the Indian Registration Act, 1908.
Interestingly, Laloo told the House that there was no dual authority on registration of land since district councils were always consulted on issues related to land.