DHARAMSHALA: Himachal Pradesh assembly on Friday passed four bills, including the significant Land Ceiling Amendment Bill, on the third day of the winter session here on Friday.
The Ceiling on Land Holdings (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which enables charitable, religious and spiritual organisations to transfer land up to 30 acres, was passed without any objection by the BJP legislators during voice vote.
Introduced by revenue minister Jagat Singh Negi, the amendment bill will allow Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) to transfer its land and building of Bhota charitable hospital in Hamirpur to its sister organisation Jagat Singh Medical Relief Society.
Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu informed the House that the amendment was necessitated as the RSSB, a charitable organisation that does social welfare works along with running charitable institutes, had not been able to transfer its land for decades.
The RSSB, which has been requesting successive govts to allow the transfer of its land, had last month temporarily shut its 75-bed hospital at Bhota, triggering protests from the residents of Hamirpur.
A heated debate took place between the Congress and the BJP legislators during discussion on the amendment bill with the latter demanding examination of the bill by a Select Committee of the House.
Leader of opposition Jai Ram Thakur said the amendment could be misused. “The possibility that this bill could be misused can’t be denied. There are too many charitable societies and trusts, which can misuse the exemptions allowed in the amendment bill. The govt should not be in a hurry to clear this bill,” said Thakur.
“We are only saying that the best possible solution should be explored for helping the Radha Soami Satsang Beas. It has never happened before that a bill was tabled or passed for a single institution. The state’s welfare should be the top priority. The bill should be sent to the Select Committee,” added Thakur.
Negi in reply said the Land Ceiling Amendment Bill would not be misused. “This amendment is for all the charitable and religious organisations and not meant for a single organisation. This law will not be misused because it will come with riders. A charitable organisation can transfer land up to a maximum of 30 acres, but only for charitable purposes, failing which the state can take over the land,” said Negi.
While defending the amendment bill, the CM said: “Our will is good and we are working for the welfare of the state. But the BJP is opposing the bill by suggesting that it should be sent to the Select Committee,” said Sukhu.
BJP MLA Randhir Sharma said there was a need to safeguard the bill with provisions so that it was not misused. “We are not opposing, but just saying that this bill can be misused and lead to land frauds in the state. A Select Committee should be formed to examine the Amendment Bill and to add safeguards to it,” said Sharma.
