Ranchi: In a significant ruling, the division bench of Jharkhand High Court comprising Chief Justice and Justice Rajesh Shankar has lifted the ban on the registration of ‘Gair Majrua Khas’ land in the state.
The court quashed the notification issued by the Department of Revenue, Registration, and Land Reforms, which had imposed a statewide prohibition on the registration of such land. The now-cancelled order was originally issued on August 26, 2015, and since then, the registration of Gair Majrua Khas land had been halted across Jharkhand.
Following the department’s notification, many landholders were left in distress, particularly those whose plots were classified under Gair Majrua Khas. At present, buying and selling such land requires navigating a complex set of legal procedures. However, this High Court ruling is expected to bring relief to landowners, easing the process of registering such land.
The 2015 notification, issued by then Secretary of the Revenue, Registration, and Land Reforms Department, Kamlakishore Sone, had stated that the registration of transfer deeds related to Gair Majrua Khas land violated public policy under Section 22-A of the Registration Act, 1908.
As a result of this directive, the transfer and registration of lands such as Kesar-e-Hind property, Gair Majrua Aam land, forest land, and other government-acquired properties—including Gair Majrua Khas—were effectively prohibited.
In 2018, the Chotanagpur Diocese Trust Association and several other parties filed petitions challenging the department’s order in the High Court. With this latest verdict, the long-standing legal barrier on the registration of Gair Majrua Khas land has now been removed.