In a country of about 160 million, the number of land-related litigations has roughly been estimated at 2.0 million. The share of disputes over land due to faulty or unregistered documents has been found to be one in every five households. This is mind-boggling. Even more disconcerting is the fact that litigations related to land form 70 per cent of the total lawsuits with the country's formal judicial system. Quite obviously, this exacts a heavy price on the litigants involved. A study conducted jointly by the Policy Research Institute (PRI) and the Human Rights and Legal Aid Services (HRLS) reveals that litigations involving land disputes cost families 45 per cent of their annual income. The situation has been further aggravated by a complicated process of land documentation and corrupt practices resorted to by land registration and revenue offices. When land disputes remain unsettled for as long as 60 years or more, the burden is shifted on to the next generation which is often found to be less familiar with the various details of the disputed property.
It is a fact that a class of social parasites has emerged over a long period of time to take advantage of the ignorance of simple and illiterate people usually living in villages. In urban settings, some powerful quarters among land grabbers have built their real estate empires on the strength of their muscle power and intrigues. Thus genuine owners of lands often find themselves at the receiving end because of manipulation of documents. True, land registration has of late been made a little simpler through introduction of a prescribed format but still it is far from what is so badly needed. A comprehensive land reform to be executed by field-level officers under close supervision of a committee can bring about a desirable change in the situation. The lawsuits that have mounted over the ages also warrant quick disposal. An economic drag on a household at the rate of 45 per cent of its annual income is too much for it. If the amount could be spent for positive purposes, its socio-economic status would have much improved.
It is exactly at this point, society as a whole can take the responsibility of dispute resolution at the local level. Family arbitration out of court has often proved very fruitful in many countries. The system of 'Panchayet' once did play a very useful role in such matters. Unfortunately, the chain of command at the grass-roots level in most areas has either become tenuous or even broken down. Revival of the system may prove too daunting a task for communities still living under the influence of 'fatwa'-trading people. But where it is possible, such exercise can be an option. However, the best option would be to bring the entire land system under digitised land management. To make it happen settlement officers and land surveyors will have to pay on-the-spot visits in order to determine the exact ownership of lands. In case of complications, they will refer it to higher authorities for resolution of disputes.
Impact of land disputes
FE Team | Published: August 15, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: August 14, 2014 21:59:52
Share if you like