Maharashtra Land Reform: 2 Crore Families Get Legal Ownership After 59 Years

The Maharashtra government has implemented a landmark ordinance to legalize land transactions that occurred over nearly six decades. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced this major reform that will benefit around 2 crore family members across the state. The ordinance specifically addresses properties in areas permitted for non-agricultural use that were previously restricted. This move will eliminate confusion in property records and provide legal security to millions of landowners.

Key Points: Maharashtra Regularises Lands for 2 Crore Families Under New Ordinance

  • Ordinance amends Prevention of Land Fragmentation Act from November 3
  • Regularises land transfers from 1965 to 2024 without any fees
  • Benefits 49 lakh family holders affecting approximately 2 crore people
  • New procedure to be issued by Revenue Department within seven days
3 min read

Lands of two crore families in Maharashtra will be legalised, says Minister Bawankule

Maharashtra government legalizes land transactions dating back to 1965, benefiting 49 lakh family holders and approximately 2 crore family members across the state.

"All of them will have their names on seven or 12 plots and will be registered - Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule"

Mumbai, Nov 4

Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has said that the ordinance to amend the Prevention of Land Fragmentation and its Consolidation of Holding Act (Tukdebandi Act) has been implemented in the state from Tuesday, and hence the Act on prohibition of land fragmentation will no longer be applicable to lands in areas permitted for non-agricultural use.

A gazette notification has been issued in this regard, which will regularise land transactions that have been carried out so far against the Prevention of Land Fragmentation and its Consolidation of Holding Act (Tukdebandi Act).

Minister Bawankule added that the land of about 49 lakh family holders (about two crore family members) in the state will be regularised.

"All of them will have their names on seven or 12 plots and will be registered. With this ordinance, the transfer of plots from November 15, 1965 to October 15, 2024 can be regularised without paying any fee," he said.

"The detailed procedure for implementing the ordinance will be issued by the Revenue Department in the next seven days. With this decision, the names of the plot holders in the layout along with the owner will appear on the 7th and 8th tranches, which will eliminate a lot of confusion," the Minister added.

He also said that the Prevention of Land Fragmentation and its Consolidation of Holding Act (Tukdebandi Act) implemented in the state was originally applicable to the agricultural sector.

The Act determined the standard area required according to the type of land (garden/tillage) for profitable farming, he added.

"This Act was not applicable to urban areas. However, due to increasing urbanisation, people bought and sold areas less than this standard area in the areas around the city or villages according to their needs. The number of such plots in the state is about 49 lakh. To regularise these irregular transactions against the Tukdebandi Act, the state government has issued an ordinance dated November 3, 2025 which has come into force from Monday," Minister Bawankule said.

According to the Minister, the biggest benefit of this ordinance is that the transfers (transactions) of shares made from November 15, 1965 to October 15, 2024 will now be 'Deemed Regularised' free of cost without charging any fee.

"The names of the buyers whose purchase and sale of the plots have been registered but whose names are not mentioned on the 7/12 extract will now be included in the ownership in the 7/12 extract. Whereas, those who have made such transactions through unregistered documents can now get their names included in the ownership in the 7/12 extract by duly registering them with the Sub-Registrar," he said.

Minister Bawankule added that the new Maharashtra Regional Planning (MRTP) will apply to all places where non-agricultural use is permissible as per the provisions of the Prevention of Land Fragmentation and its Consolidation of Holding Act (Tukdebandi Act) or the Metropolitan Region Development Authority Act, areas within the jurisdiction of Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayats Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority.

The new MRTP will also apply in areas under authorities like MMRDA, Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority and Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority and also in the peripheral areas of cities/villages as per the provisions of the Special Planning Authority Area.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
This is a welcome move but I hope the implementation is smooth. Government departments often create unnecessary hurdles. Let's see if the promised 7-day procedure actually helps people on ground.
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Arjun K
Great decision! Regularizing land transactions without fees will boost real estate development in peri-urban areas. This will help middle-class families who invested their life savings in plots.
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Michael C
As someone working in urban planning, I appreciate this pragmatic approach. The old laws were outdated and didn't account for rapid urbanization. This will reduce litigation and confusion in property markets.
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Shreya B
My father bought a small plot near Pune 20 years ago and we've been facing issues with registration. This news feels like a huge weight lifted from our shoulders! Thank you government for this initiative.
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Karthik V
While this is good for existing landowners, I hope the government also ensures proper urban planning. Unchecked regularization might lead to haphazard development and infrastructure issues in the long run.

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