SHILLONG, June 21: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) passed the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Regulation and Administration of Land) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, paving the way for the digitisation of land records, the introduction of modern survey technology, online citizen services, and the establishment of a dedicated Land Tribunal.
The Bill, passed on the final day of the Council’s summer session on Friday, seeks to amend the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Regulation and Administration of Land) Act, 2021, to make land administration more transparent, efficient, and technology-driven.
Significantly, the Bill amends Section 16 of the principal Act by removing the provision that required the Executive Committee to consult with the Dorbar Shnong, Dorbar Raid, and Dorbar Hima concerned before implementing land ceiling provisions.
Executive Member in charge of Land, Powell Sohkhlet, said this section was amended because a review of official records and files revealed that, over the years, the Council held several fruitless meetings and consultations with the Himas and villages regarding the implementation of land ceiling provisions in Raid areas. These discussions did not yield any concrete results, while Raid lands continued to shrink.
“Therefore, to ensure that the provisions relating to land ceiling are implemented effectively and in accordance with the law, it became necessary to amend Section 16 by removing the requirement for prior consultation,” he said.
Sohkhlet said that after the implementation of the 2021 Act, several areas identified required improvement to ensure a more accurate, systematic, and reliable land records management system.
“One of the key features of the amendment is the strengthening of the land records system through digitisation. The Bill formally introduces terms such as digital land records, digital signature, QR code authentication, and computerised map software, recognising the growing role of technology in land administration,” he said.
The amendment provides legal recognition to digitally signed land records. Certified digital extracts of the record of land title rights bearing digital signatures will enjoy the same legal validity as physical certified copies. Digital land records generated under the Act will be admissible as evidence and presumed correct unless proven otherwise.
To improve land mapping and ownership records, the Bill empowers the Executive Committee to undertake geospatial surveys of Ri Kynti and Ri Raid lands using modern mapping technologies.Every land parcel will be assigned a Unique Land Parcel Identification Number or a similar unique identification system linked to both textual and spatial land records.
The amendment also introduces an online land administration system, enabling citizens to access services such as viewing land records, downloading certified copies, applying for mutation, and viewing parcel maps through a dedicated portal. The system will allow e-filing and online payment of fees, thereby reducing delays and improving public access to services.
Another major provision is the creation of a Land Tribunal to adjudicate disputes relating to land records, mutations, boundary issues, and digital land records. The Tribunal will have the authority to hear appeals and objections and may conduct proceedings both physically and electronically. Certified digital records, maps and QR code-authenticated documents will be admissible as evidence before the Tribunal.
The amendment also contains safeguards against tampering with digital records. Any person found wilfully altering, destroying, or manipulating digital land records or related data may face penalties of up to Rs 50,000, apart from any criminal liability under applicable laws. Officials who knowingly issue multiple digital certificates or make unauthorised alterations to digital entries may face departmental action and other penalties.
Sohkhlet said the overall objective of the amendment is to ensure accurate, secure, and reliable land records while providing faster, simpler, and more transparent services to the public.
The Bill will now be forwarded to the Governor through the District Council Affairs Department for assent before it can come into effect.
