Uttarakhand Approves Draft Law Restricting Land Sales

On 19th February 2025, The Uttarakhand Cabinet has approved a draft law preventing outsiders from buying agricultural and horticultural land in 11 out of 13 districts, aiming to safeguard local resources and cultural heritage.

The proposed law, which will be tabled in the Assembly’s Budget Session, bars non-residents from purchasing agricultural and horticultural land in all districts except Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar.
Under the new law, district magistrates will no longer have the power to approve land purchases, ensuring stricter regulation and oversight of transactions.
A dedicated online portal will be established to track and record all land purchases made by non-residents, enhancing transparency and preventing fraudulent transactions.
Non-residents must submit an affidavit before purchasing land to prevent illegal transactions and ensure compliance with the law.
If passed, this law will nullify amendments made in 2017 under former Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, which had relaxed restrictions on land purchases outside municipal areas.
The law mandates that land within municipal limits must be used strictly according to designated land-use regulations, and violations will lead to government acquisition of the property.