The Assam government has put in place a formal framework for inter-religious land transfer, approving a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) aimed at scrutiny, transparency and speedy clearance of such proposals.
The decision was taken at a state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Guwahati on Wednesday. Explaining the mechanism, Sarma told reporters that applications for land transfers involving parties of different religions will now undergo a multi-layered vetting process before final approval.
“The state cabinet has approved streamlining the procedure for granting permission in cases of inter-religious transfer of immovable property, with the aim of ensuring more efficient processing and expeditious disposal of such proposals. All applications for land transfer of this nature would be submitted to the government, which would exercise scrutiny over each case,” Sarma said.
As per the SOP, the concerned District Commissioner will forward each application to the Revenue Department. A designated nodal officer will then transmit it to the Assam Police Special Branch, tasked with examining the source of funds, identifying fraud or coercion, assessing social implications and ensuring national security safeguards. The proposal will finally return to the government, with the District Commissioner authorised to take the concluding decision.
The same process will apply to non-governmental organisations from outside Assam seeking land for educational or health institutions. Local NGOs, however, will not be subjected to this scrutiny.
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The cabinet also cleared a series of unrelated measures, including the closure of the Assam Plantation Crops Development Corporation Ltd, with financial sanction of Rs 6 crore for voluntary retirement settlements.
Investment proposals worth nearly Rs 969 crore were approved under the state’s IIPA 2019 scheme, with four major projects expected to generate 2,704 jobs. These include Premier Cryogenics Limited’s Rs 125-crore gas manufacturing plant in Jagiroad, Jonali Construction Private Limited’s Rs 182.17-crore hospitality project, and two ventures from Ambuja Neotia Group in healthcare and hotels valued at over Rs 660 crore.
Additionally, the cabinet sanctioned Rs 25,000 each for participants of the Jhumoir Binandini programme on October 12. It also gave the go-ahead for the establishment of a commercial poultry unit in Golaghat’s Dergaon, projected to generate 700 jobs with an investment of up to Rs 30 crore.
Sarma further informed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Assam, linked to the centenary celebrations of Bhupen Hazarika, has been rescheduled to 13-14 September. The state-level commemoration will still be held on September 8.
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