Gujarat amends rules to speed up land transactions

The Gujarat government has introduced key changes to the process of issuing 135-D notices under the Gujarat Land Revenue Act, 1879, aiming to reduce delays in land transactions and streamline documentation procedures.

The decision, implemented through a government order following legal procedures, is expected to provide relief to buyers and sellers by simplifying the notice process in property dealings.

Gujarat government spokesperson and minister Jitu Vaghani said that earlier, issuance of 135-D notices was mandatory in every land transaction, often leading to delays despite measures such as videography.

“In several cases, the process was prolonged due to objections, sometimes raised on old grounds. Based on representations from MLAs and stakeholders, the government has decided to relax the procedure through an ordinance,” he said.

Under the revised norms, if the land record is up to one year old, the notice period has been reduced from 30 days to seven days, significantly cutting down the time required to complete transactions.

Section 135-D of the Gujarat Land Revenue Act mandates that whenever changes are made in land ownership records, including entries in the 7/12 extract, all concerned parties must be notified to ensure transparency and safeguard rights.

However, officials said the provision had increasingly been misused, with objections delaying certification of land records for extended periods.