The Karnataka government has introduced a series of legislative amendments aimed at tightening land governance, streamlining property transactions, and digitizing revenue processes. Key proposals include mandatory registration of power-of-attorney documents related to immovable property transfers and provisions for digital e-stamping and electronic signatures. The amendments also focus on curbing land grabbing, with stricter penalties, and safeguarding both rural and urban government land from encroachment. Additionally, the proposed bills advocate for transparent revenue practices, regulation of unauthorized cultivation, and protection of natural assets such as grazing grounds and water bodies, aligning with Supreme Court directives.Read more

The Allahabad High Court has upheld YEIDA's decision to cancel Jaiprakash Associates Ltd.'s (JAL) 1,000-hectare land allotment due to payment defaults, affecting 4,600 homebuyers. The court ordered YEIDA to take over JAL's incomplete housing projects, setting a 36-month deadline for completion. A monitoring committee, including UP-RERA and homebuyer representatives, will oversee the process. The court declared a 'zero period' from February 2020, ensuring no penalties or interest. Homebuyers remain cautious, given JAL's insolvency proceedings, but the ruling offers a clear path for long-delayed project completion.Read more

The Bihar government has extended the deadline for its ongoing state-wide land survey from July 2026 to December 2026 to address public inconvenience and ensure transparency. Announced by Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Shri Sanjay Saraogi, the move comes as part of discussions on the department's INR 1,955.98 crore budget. The special land survey, initiated in 2019, aims to digitize land records and resolve long-standing disputes. While the government is considering extending the March 2025 deadline for self-declaration document uploads due to technical glitches, opposition members staged a walkout, criticizing delays in land redistribution.Read more

The Bombay High Court has recently cleared the way for the construction of a long-delayed hotel project in Sector-15, CBD-Belapur Road, Navi Mumbai. A division bench comprising Justice Ajey Gadkari and Justice Shyam Chandak was hearing a petition filed by PVP Star Hotels Private Limited, which challenged CIDCO's demand for an additional lease premium. The project, initially tendered by the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd. (CIDCO) in 2006, had faced significant delays due to the non-development of the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport. Although the court agreed that lease termination would not serve CIDCO's objectives, it held the hotelier responsible for the additional payment.Read more

The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) issued a directive to all electricity supply companies across the state, including Bescom, to comply with a recent Supreme Court ruling. The judgment requires that service connections such as electricity, water, and sewerage be provided to buildings only after the submission of valid completion or occupancy certificates. The directive extends to power supply companies in Mangalore, Hubli, Chamundeshwari, Gulbarga, and the Hukkeri rural electricity cooperative society. Authorities are now mandated to carry out regular inspections and enforce strict compliance to prevent unauthorised constructions from accessing essential services.Read more

A special court in Odisha has directed the restoration of funds worth INR 450 crore, attached by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), to rightful investors linked to the multi-state chit fund scam allegedly operated by the Rose Valley group of companies. The special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Bhubaneswar ordered the release of INR 332.76 crore, which had accrued to INR 450 crore with interest. The asset disposal committee (ADC), established by the Calcutta High Court, has been overseeing the restitution process. So far, 31 lakh investors have registered their claims, with 32,319 claims already processed, resulting in a disbursal of approximately INR 22 crore.Read more

Between April 2024 and the end of January 2025, authorities detected 173 cases of illegal sand extraction in Dakshina Kannada district and 103 cases in Udupi district. In response, officials seized numerous vehicles, boats, and machinery involved in the illicit activity. Fines totalling INR 54 lakh and INR 19.6 lakh were imposed in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, respectively. Mines and Geology Minister SS Mallikarjun stated that measures have been taken to curb illegal activities, including auctioning sand blocks and approving legal sand leases, while M-Sand units continue to meet construction demands.Read more

The Rajasthan government has announced plans to regularize 87 unauthorized colonies on land owned by the Rajasthan Housing Board (RHB), mainly in Jaipur's Sanganer constituency. Residents will receive lease deeds (pattas) after paying government fees, bringing these colonies into the legal system for tax and utility collections. The Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) will manage this process through special camps in July. Additionally, JDA plans to expand its jurisdiction from 5,000 to 6,000 sq. km by 2047, integrating 272 villages. While this aims to tackle urban challenges, experts warn it could lead to unplanned urban sprawl and loss of agricultural land.Read more

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to take immediate action against illegal land encroachments, emphasizing strict legal measures against those who seize property from the poor. Speaking at a 'janata darshan' in Gorakhpur, he assured swift resolutions for public grievances. Encroachers may face fines and imprisonment under Section 447 of the IPC. Other states, including Tamil Nadu and Assam, have also intensified anti-encroachment efforts. UP's initiative aims to uphold social justice, safeguard property rights, and reinforce the rule of law, ensuring protection for marginalized communities from unlawful land seizures.Read more

The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation intensified its action against illegal constructions by demolishing six structures and clearing eight encroachments in different areas of the city. Additionally, officials sealed five unauthorized shops in Pritam Nagar, Barewal Road, and 200 Feet Road. Industrial buildings and a labor quarter under construction were also razed, along with multiple encroachments near Krishna Mandir and Amardas Colony. This crackdown follows a series of past actions, including demolitions in Star Road, Tajpur Road, and Lohara, highlighting the MC's continued efforts to curb unauthorized development. However, the drive faced resistance from shopkeepers in Model Town Extension, who accused authorities of selective action.Read more