Laws dealing with land and property have led to a maximum number of constitutional amendments and litigation in the Supreme Court over the decades. Even after these, the law and its interpretation are hazy. Some of the Supreme Court’s judgments are awaiting reconsideration by larger Benches — one was in the files for nearly 15 years and another for six years. Successive chief justices have avoided opening the chamber of...

The rural development ministry has put out a draft of the proposed National Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement (LARR) bill for public comment. There is no doubt it is a big improvement on the 1894 colonial law that was long overdue for repeal; in particular, it is intended to be far more farmer-friendly. Yet, in several respects the Bill is patently inadequate, both in its objectives and the mechanics...

By the time you read this, Anna Hazare would have started his fast and his well-fed handlers will be stationed in front of television cameras. Independence Day, grey and wet was a holiday with no breaking news, so after the Red Fort speech, all airtime was taken over by talking heads debating the Anna fast. The talks generate lots of heat: "Think about the future," or "Aren't we also members...

-PTI   Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh today said he would visit some of the Naxal-hit areas in Orissa to oversee implementation of different social welfare schemes like MGNREGA, PMGSY, IAY and National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). Ramesh, who would start field tour from tomorrow morning, was scheduled to arrive here this night. "Focus of my visit is to see implementation of rural development schemes in Naxal-hit districts of Orissa," Ramesh told...

-PTI   In the backdrop of controversies surrounding procurement of land, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today promised enactment of a "forward looking and balanced" law on land acquisition soon to prevent tensions over the sensitive issue.Taking note of the tensions caused in some parts of the country because of acquisition of land for industry, infrastructure and urbanisation, the Prime Minister said the government will ensure that "no injustice is done to anyone...