Property Ownership: Can the Government Take Your Land Without Your Consent? Know India’s Land Acquisition Rules
Owning a piece of land gives a person important legal rights. But property ownership in India does not always mean that the government can never acquire that land. In certain circumstances, the government has the legal power to acquire privately owned land for a public purpose , even when the owner does not want to sell it. However, this does not mean that a government officer can simply enter your property and take it away. Land acquisition must generally follow a legally prescribed process, including notification, opportunity to raise objections, determination of compensation and, where applicable, rehabilitation and resettlement. The main central law governing this process is the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (RFCTLARR Act) , which came into force on January 1, 2014. State-specific laws, amendments and special acquisition laws can also affect individual cases. ( India Code ) Can the Government Acquire Your...