THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: On Wednesday, the state cabinet approved the rules for implementing the Kerala Land Assignment (Amendment) Act, which will allow for the regularization of pattayam lands that have previously violated conditions, as well as provide for alternative uses under regulation. This decision symbolizes the next phase in the process that began with the passage of the amendment in the assembly last year.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that the measure aims to resolve longstanding issues in the high ranges. “Since 2016, addressing land-related problems for the residents in the high ranges has been a major goal of this government. This amendment is the result of continuous efforts, bringing an end to a wait of over sixty years,” he remarked.
The Kerala Land Assignment (Amendment) Bill was passed by the assembly on September 14, 2023, and received the governor’s assent on April 27, 2024. It was formally notified in June that year. The new regulations aim to regularize land use changes that occurred until June 7, 2024, and to establish a pathway for future permissions.
According to Vijayan, the amendment was developed after extensive consultations. “This was not a unilateral decision. Political parties, community and religious leaders, environmental activists, media representatives, and legal experts participated in discussions. The assembly passed the bill unanimously,” he explained.
Vijayan elaborated that the government is introducing two sets of rules under the Act. The first set, which has been approved, addresses the regularization of past deviations in pattayam land usage. The second set, to be discussed later, will outline conditions for permitting new uses beyond agriculture and housing, particularly for livelihood purposes.
The rules were created after careful consideration of judicial input. “High court directives were closely examined with contributions from the advocate general, ministers from the revenue, industries, and finance departments, the chief secretary, and senior officials. The final provisions were drafted after multiple rounds of discussions,” he added.
The government has decided that applications for regularization will be processed via an online portal, with a one-year timeframe for submission. Depending on the nature of land use, certain applications may be exempt from fees or may be charged at rates based on the fair value of the land. Homes built for personal use, charitable institutions, and cultural organizations will be exempt, while larger commercial or industrial applications will incur graded fees.
Vijayan clarified that these rules are not intended to provide blanket approval for future violations. “Only past deviations will be regularized. Moving forward, pattayam land cannot be diverted for other uses without prior approval. The goal is to provide relief to those already entangled in legal and procedural issues, not to facilitate indiscriminate usage,” he stated.
The rules require applications to be processed within 90 days; otherwise, they will automatically be considered approved. The government retains the authority to review or revoke approvals if violations are discovered or if public interest dictates such action.
