Pune, Maharashtra: The issue of land fragmentation in Pune has been a cause of concern, prompting the Maharashtra Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Act to be put into effect. Despite the Act’s provisions, instances of dividing land into smaller pieces and proceeding with registrations have been reported. To address these irregularities, the authorities issued a circular mandating that any purchase or sale of such fragmented lands must be accompanied by a layout of the area and permission from the collector or a legal authority.
However, the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court (HC) challenged this circular and ruled in favor of cancelling it. In response, the Stamp and Registration Department filed an appeal in the Supreme Court (SC), seeking to overturn the HC’s decision. The SC has now granted a stay on the HC ruling for two months, which means the registration of fragmented land will be temporarily suspended during this period.
The circular, issued by the Stamp and Registration Department on July 12, emphasized the need for a layout and official approval before transactions involving land parcels ranging from 1 to 3 gunthas. This move aimed to curb the haphazard division of land and promote planned urban development in Pune.
However, the HC’s ruling challenged the validity of this circular, leading to a legal battle between the state government and the registration authorities. The state government argued that allowing the registration of fragmented land could lead to unplanned growth, illegal constructions, and a host of other problems detrimental to the city’s development.
The SC took these arguments into consideration and stayed the HC ruling for two months. During this period, no registrations of 1-2 guntha land will be permitted, giving authorities time to review and amend the Act if necessary.
Hiralal Sonawane, the Inspector General of Registration and Controller of Stamps, stated that the SC’s decision upheld the Stamp and Registration Department’s stance. He confirmed that appropriate measures would be taken to address the issue and bring about the required changes to the Act.
The SC’s stay on the registration of fragmented land in Pune is a significant step to regulate land transactions and encourage planned development in the city. It allows the authorities to reevaluate the existing regulations and devise effective strategies to tackle the challenges posed by land fragmentation. As the two-month period unfolds, stakeholders in Pune’s real estate sector will closely monitor the developments to understand how this ruling will impact land transactions and urban planning in the city going forward.
