Land Purchase in Uttarakhand: Assembly Passes New Bill, Know the Rules and History

Uttarakhand Land Law: Dhami Government Approves Stronger Land Law After Three Years of Work

The Dhami government has been working on strengthening Uttarakhand’s land laws for nearly three years. In 2022, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami formed a committee led by former Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar, which submitted its report on September 5, 2022. Today, the Uttarakhand Assembly passed the new land law bill. CM Dhami presented the Uttarakhand (Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Management Act, 1950) Amendment Bill 2025 and explained the proposed changes in the law. He told the Assembly that these amendments aim to protect land in the state from land mafias and prevent its misuse for purposes other than what it was originally intended for. He also highlighted the challenges the state faced before implementing these changes, particularly in terms of geography, investment, and employment. CM Dhami pointed out that in recent years, land was often purchased under the pretense of setting up enterprises and providing jobs to locals but was later used for entirely different purposes. The new amendments will help prevent such misuse and also differentiate between genuine investors and land mafias.

Three Years of Work Towards a Stronger Land Law

Recognizing the demand for stricter land laws, the Dhami government has been working on reforms for nearly three years. In 2022, CM Dhami formed a committee led by Subhash Kumar, which submitted 23 recommendations for a stronger land law. To further analyze these recommendations, the government set up a high-level committee. Additionally, new verification rules were introduced, requiring both buyers and sellers of agricultural land to undergo background checks before finalizing a sale.

Key Changes in the New Land Law

• Restrictions on Land Purchase for Agriculture and Horticulture: Except for Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar, people from outside Uttarakhand will no longer be allowed to buy agricultural and horticultural land in the state’s remaining 11 districts.
• Residential Land Purchase Limits: People from outside Uttarakhand can buy up to 250 square meters of land for residential purposes, but only once in their lifetime. They must also submit a mandatory affidavit.
• Industrial Land Rules Unchanged: There are no changes in the rules for purchasing land for industrial purposes.
• Land Purchase in Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar: Buying agricultural and horticultural land in these districts will now require approval at the government level, instead of just from the district administration.
• Ceiling Limit Removed in 11 Districts: The 12.5-acre land ceiling has been removed in these districts. However, in Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar, buyers must obtain a certificate from the concerned department stating the purpose of land use before receiving government approval.
• Strict Regulations on Land Use: Buyers must submit an affidavit stating they will use the land only for the declared purpose. If the land is misused, the government will take possession of it.
• Online Monitoring System: A digital portal will track all land purchases, with district officials regularly reporting transactions to the state government.
• Land Use Restrictions in Urban Areas: Within municipal limits, land can only be used according to its designated purpose.

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599 Cases of Land Law Violations

CM Dhami informed the Assembly that 599 cases of land law violations have been reported in recent times. Out of these, 572 cases are currently in court, while the rest have been resolved. As a result of this crackdown, 9.47 acres of land have been taken over by the government.

Evolution of Uttarakhand’s Land Law Over 23 Years

Uttarakhand’s land laws have gone through several changes over the past 23 years. Two years after Uttarakhand was formed, the N.D. Tiwari government introduced the first land law in 2002. However, in 2004, the same government made amendments to tighten the law.Initially, after separating from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand followed UP’s land laws, which had no restrictions on land purchases. In 2003, N.D. Tiwari’s government amended Section 154 of the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950, restricting outsiders from buying more than 500 square meters of residential land and imposing conditions on the purchase of agricultural land. District magistrates were given the authority to approve purchases of up to 12.5 acres of agricultural land. Additionally, purchasing land for medical, health, or industrial purposes required government approval. The Tiwari government also mandated that any project for which land was purchased must be completed within two years. If not, an extension could be granted only if a valid reason was provided. However, as industrial projects increased under the Industrial Package scheme, land misuse also became a major issue. To address this, General B.C. Khanduri’s government tightened the land law in 2007, reducing the residential land purchase limit from 500 square meters to 250 square meters.

In 2018, Trivendra Singh Rawat’s government made further changes, removing the requirement that only farmers could purchase land for setting up industries in the hills. The amendment also made it easier to convert agricultural land for non-agricultural use. Initially, this rule applied only to hilly areas, but later, plains districts were also included. Now, with the latest amendments in 2025, the Dhami government has introduced stricter regulations to ensure responsible land use and prevent exploitation by land mafias.