SHILLONG: Supreme Court lawyer Daniel Stone Lyngdoh Nonglait while pointing out the Land Acquisition Act, 2014, and its contradiction to the Instrument of Accession (IOA), 1947, said the Act, if implemented in the State, will affect the unique landholding system.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, he said the Land Acquisition Act came into being in 2012 but it was passed by Parliament in 2014. This Act contradicts the IOA.
“The Instrument of Accession (IOA), is not an act but an agreement and the Land Acquisition Act will be applicable in India and it will be applicable in our land as well,” he said, adding, “This will affect our land as in the State, most lands are owned by individuals or has been granted special ownership. This Act will enhance and upgrade land revenue and this will pose a difficulty for the public.”
Nonglait questioned whether people should accept the Act to be applicable in the State.
“If the Act is made applicable in Meghalaya, land will have to be registered and there will be a change in the land tenure system,” he added.
