Why are people demanding Bhu kanun Uttarakhand
The Bhu kanun Uttarakhand came into effect in February 2025. Under the leadership of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the state cabinet approved the law on 19 February 2025.
Later, on 21 February 2025, the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly passed the law, and on 22 February 2025, the Assembly announced the approval of the new land law. This has been described as an important step towards land reforms in Uttarakhand.
Bhu kanun Uttarakhand 2025:
The Bhu Kanoon was implemented on 22 February 2025; however, after receiving the Governor’s approval on 1 May 2025, the law was effectively enforced.
The Uttarakhand Bhu Kanoon is an important land reform law introduced to protect the land, culture, environment, and interests of the native and long-term residents of Uttarakhand.
Under the Uttarakhand Bhu Kanoon, the biggest and most significant change is that out of the 13 districts of Uttarakhand, this law has been implemented in only 11 districts.
The remaining two districts, Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar, are not covered under the Uttarakhand Bhu Kanun. Before the Bhu Kanun was introduced, any person in the country could purchase approximately 12.5 acres of agricultural land in Uttarakhand. This limit could be increased in special or exceptional cases.
Separate permission was required for the purchase and sale of land for large-scale or commercial purposes. For building a house, land could be purchased in any area of the state, and there was no prescribed limit on the size of residential land.
Strict rules for purchasing land have been imposed in these 11 districts, and in many cases, the buyer must submit an affidavit stating the purpose and objective for which the land is being used. If correct information is not provided, action will be taken under the Bhu Kanun.
Focus points:-
- Agricultural and horticultural land purchases are completely prohibited in the districts of Dehradun, Pauri Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Nainital, Pithoragarh, Champawat, Almora, and Bageshwar.
- Now, the District Magistrate (DM) will no longer be able to independently grant permission for the purchase of agricultural and horticultural land. All such cases will now be processed through the e-Registration Uttarakhand Portal established by the state government.
- For people from outside the state, the government has introduced a One Family, One Purchase Policy, under which non-residents of Uttarakhand can purchase only up to 250 square metres of land and only on a one-time basis. They must also submit an affidavit stating the purpose for which the land is being purchased.
- Under the Uttarakhand Bhu Kanun, these rules do not apply to the two districts of Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar. There are no restrictions on the purchase of agricultural or horticultural land in these districts.
Uttarakhand New Law for Non- Resident
On 21 February 2025, the Uttarakhand government passed the Bhu Kanun (Land Law) in Uttarakhand. Under this law, it has been clearly stated that people from outside Uttarakhand can purchase residential land in the state only once.
According to this rule, outsiders will not be allowed to build houses on agricultural or horticultural land and can purchase residential land only up to 250 square meters.
Earlier, permission from the District Magistrate was required for such purchases, but now the process will be regulated by the state government.
An online portal will be maintained through which information about all outside buyers can be easily accessed. Outsiders will be required to submit documents such as Aadhaar and address proof.
The Uttarakhand Bhu Kanoon is not applicable in two districts, where people from outside the state can purchase agricultural and horticultural land.
Additionally, the provisions of the Bhu Kanun do not apply to land falling under municipal corporation areas.
Outsiders can purchase any amount of land in places such as Dehradun where municipal corporation jurisdiction exists, and the plot size limit does not apply there.
Impact of Bhu Kanun on Dehradun real estate
The Uttarakhand Bhu Kanoon has been a highly influential step in Dehradun’s real estate sector. It not only regulates land purchases but also affects the pattern of the city’s development.
This law has been introduced with a focus on protecting Uttarakhand’s culture, heritage, environment, and the interests of its long-term local residents.
Positive impact :-
- After the implementation of the Bhu Kanun, a limit has been set on land purchases by people from other states. This has also restricted large-scale land acquisitions and reduced excessive commercialization.
- Due to the lack of a strong legal framework, land prices in Dehradun were continuously rising rapidly, making it difficult for local residents to purchase land in their own native place. Keeping all these factors in mind, the new Bhu Kanoon was enacted in the interest of local residents.
- Environmental-related activities in Dehradun and its surrounding areas were continuously increasing, which was having a direct impact on the environment. Excessive land purchases led to the cutting of trees, causing greater damage to the local environment. Control over land purchases has helped to a considerable extent in protecting natural resources and green areas.
- After the implementation of the Bhu Kanun, the attraction of investors and residential buyers from other states in Dehradun and other places will now shift towards townships, gated societies, apartments, and RERA-approved projects, which will benefit the organized real estate market along with its growth.
- There will also be restrictions on speculative and fraudulent land purchases, and the land market will remain more balanced. At the same time, under this law, all land-related records and transactions will be managed through an online portal, enabling the government to maintain strict oversight over land mafias and illegal encroachments.
Negative impact:-
- The one-family-one-purchase rule and the 250-square-meter limit for buyers from outside the state have legally restricted large investors and high-net-worth individuals from outside the state who are attracted to invest in Dehradun.
- The one-family-one-purchase rule and the 250-square-meter limit for buyers from outside the state have legally restricted large investors and high-net-worth individuals from outside the state who are attracted to invest in Dehradun. As a result, real estate sellers in Dehradun are facing stable prices and are finding it difficult to locate buyers while selling land. At the same time, the profits they intended to earn from selling land have now become limited.
- Dehradun had a greater dependence on retired people from outside the state and those looking to purchase a second home or farmhouse, as it is close to Delhi-NCR. However, due to this strict law and stringent regulations, the market is being affected, and its attractiveness as a center for speculative investment has declined.
- Dehradun had a greater dependence on retired people from outside the state and those looking to purchase a second home or farmhouse, as it is close to Delhi-NCR. However, due to this strict law and stringent regulations, the market is being affected, and its attractiveness as a center for speculative investment has declined.
- The restrictions on land purchases by outsiders have led to a decline in land demand, which is affecting the growth of our new residential and commercial projects. The income of sellers has also decreased.
Conclusion:-
The Uttarakhand Bhu Kanoon 2025 has been enacted with the objective of protecting the state’s identity, land, culture, environment, and the interests of local residents. It is one of the most important and significant new land reform laws. This law has brought all rules related to land purchase and sale under an online portal for monitoring and regulation, and it has also imposed restrictions on the misuse of agricultural and horticultural land in the state.
The impact of the Bhu Kanun has been most visible in the real estate market, where mixed effects have been observed. On one hand, efforts have been made to protect local land and promote an organized land market, while on the other hand, the strict provisions of the law have reduced the profits of sellers.
In the long term, the success of this law depends on how effectively the state government can maintain a balance between protecting local interests and promoting economic development. If the government can advance land conservation along with investment and project development, then the Uttarakhand Bhu Kanun can become the foundation of a development model.
READ MORE:
