The Land and Development Office (L&DO) of the Housing Ministry, has unexpectedly stopped converting Lease to Freehold Land for about 2 Years. This undeclared, unilateral and unjustified action on the part of L&DO is entirely uncalled for. The Delhi citizens, mostly aged ones, are faced with painful and agonizing situation to say the least. Despite several requests and even approach to Delhi High Court by some effected, the L&DO Office is defiant and unmoved. Interestingly, L&DO Office, has informally told some applicants that the Price of Lands have grown considerably and there is anticipation that the land would be purchased by Builders, Middle Men, new Owners etc. therefore its conversion to freehold is not being permitted. Also, the Builders usually tend to increase the number of residents in the land they develop impacting services.
This excuse, citizens feel is baseless. Its felt that even if this be true it should be tackled effectively, rather than leave things in a limbo. It is suggested that even the applicants can be directed to give undertaking that they would not resort to further selling to Developers and if done the Conversion should be cancelled. Well, there can also be made provision of capping of maximum residents in a plot of land. Data can be easily obtained from Census Records or Voting Lists. The L&DO Office can do regular inspection and should seek the help of Police authorities if necessary for enforcement. Ironically, while the common, genuine and hapless citizens, many of whom are in the evening of their life; however, Developers, seem to be able to get conversions done through unfair means. Till about 2 years ago the conversion was being allowed. Even DDA is allowing conversation. This is a violation of the Fundamental Right to Equality. If one was to study the matter, it would emanate that the honest middle class, Tax Paying citizens are suffering for no fault of theirs. In India the honest Tax Payers seems to be most times at the receiving end. There is also this peculiar, repeated demand for updating of KYC by banks which also is vexious for the elderly. Many experts feel that the elders are confronted with stringent negative rules whether it’s the Rates of IT Deduction, Filing of complex Annual Returns, Lack of Payment of Higher Pension under the EPF Act despite ruling of the Apex Court and now this pernicious denial of Land Conversion. The state is becoming totalitarian and under the influence of deep state actors.
Well in India, Property Rights were well respected and even after Independence it was given its due. NewsIP wishes to inform its esteemed readers that Property Rights were considered important and Right to property was a Fundamental Right till 1978 and it was the Indira Gandhi government which removed it. Even the KeshavaNanda Bharati case which was the most significant judgement on the constitution passed by the Supreme Court was basically a Property related case. So much importance having being attached to property rights in India it’s sad to see the deterioration today. Its bewildering that such a situation has come to pass. One cannot but assume there is some ulterior motive behind such motives. While the rich landed gentry is not impacted the poor small land owners are made to suffer. Land reforms and redistribution has never properly taken off in India since Bhoodan Movement of Shri Vinobha Bhave. Today propertism is still being practiced by the rich and powerful while the middle class and poor continue to suffer. They struggle all their lives and barely save enough for purchasing land or a dwelling with their lifetime savings. Then they are forced to face a cruel system of denial of full rights and fear on confiscation. Such a process belies the much publicized housing schemes for the needy. Citizens are gradually able to see the machinations and needless harassment by L&DO in Delhi and are losing faith in the government systems. Obviously the happiness quotient is severely impacted negatively.
A leading mainstream media house has reported that there are around 57,400 residential, 1,600 commercial, 1,400 institutional and 110 industrial units under the jurisdiction of the
L&DO in the Capital. Is this really a number which is unmanageable? Certainly not, what is lacking is the will of the L&DO to put in genuine efforts to solve the issue. It’s a very easy and inefficient way to cancel conversions totally. It’s a possibility that the elderly citizens, pursuing their cases may not even get to see the completion of the process, in the lifetime. What a tragedy it would be? Will it not hurt the conscience of those in the positions of power and ability to resolve the not so difficult process. The ease of living for citizens seems to be gradually difficult. For those who have given their youth to the country, in the autumn of their life such fate is exasperating to say, the least. It seems, India is today – ‘A Land Not for the Elderly’.
The L&DO office certainly deserves to answer urgently, not keep a studied silence and deliver justice. After all in the words of Domitus Ulpianus – “Justice is the constant and perpetual will to allot to every man his due.”