Collector Designations and Draft Amendments to the Land Acquisition Rules, 2017
The Tamil Nadu Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Land Administration Wing, issued G.O. Ms. No. 472 dated 8 September 2020, designating specified revenue and land acquisition officers to perform the functions of a Collector under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. The department also published proposed amendments to the Tamil Nadu Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Rules, 2017, but these amendments were only a draft open to objections and suggestions.
What the notifications do
The Tamil Nadu Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Land Administration Wing, issued G.O. Ms. No. 472 dated 8 September 2020. Notification SRO A-31/2020 designates officers who may perform the functions of a Collector under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
Notification SRO A-32/2020 separately publishes draft amendments to the Tamil Nadu Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Rules, 2017. The amendments were proposals and were to be considered after fifteen days from publication in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette.
Officers designated as Collector
Notification SRO A-31/2020 designates the following officers to perform Collector functions under the Act:
- Additional Collector (Revenue) or District Revenue Officer of a Revenue District.
- Special District Revenue Officer (Land Acquisition).
- Assistant Collector, Sub Collector or Revenue Divisional Officer of a Revenue Division.
- Special Deputy Collector (Land Acquisition).
- Special Tahsildar (Land Acquisition).
People whose land is being acquired may therefore deal with one of these designated officers for functions assigned to a Collector under the Act.
Proposed changes to land acquisition awards
Notification SRO A-32/2020 proposes to omit clause (d) of rule 2 and replace rule 18. The proposed replacement provides that:
- A land acquisition award referred to in Section 23 must be made in Form VII and Form VIII.
- Where land compensation is not more than Rupees Ten Crores and total compensation, including rehabilitation and resettlement benefits, is not more than Rupees Twenty Crores, the designated officer may make the award after obtaining the District Collector's prior approval.
- Where land compensation is more than Rupees Ten Crores and total compensation, including rehabilitation and resettlement benefits, is more than Rupees Twenty Crores, the District Collector may make the award after obtaining prior approval from the Commissioner of Land Administration.
Objections and suggestions
Notification SRO A-32/2020 allowed any person to submit an objection or suggestion about the draft amendments within fifteen days from the Gazette publication date. Submissions were to be addressed to the Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai, 600 009. The State Government stated that submissions received within that period would be considered.
This summary is generated from the source document to help you find what is relevant. The PDF above is authoritative. For advice on your own property, use LandLens One or speak to a qualified professional.
Common questions
Which officers can perform the functions of a Collector in a land acquisition case?
The designated officers include the Additional Collector (Revenue), District Revenue Officer, specified Special District Revenue Officers and Special Deputy Collectors for land acquisition, the Assistant Collector, Sub Collector, Revenue Divisional Officer and Special Tahsildar (Land Acquisition).
Were the changes to the 2017 land acquisition rules final?
No. Notification SRO A-32/2020 published them as draft amendments and allowed objections and suggestions before they were considered.
Who would approve a lower value land acquisition award under the draft amendment?
If land compensation was not more than Rupees Ten Crores and total compensation including rehabilitation and resettlement benefits was not more than Rupees Twenty Crores, the designated officer would make the award after obtaining prior approval from the District Collector.
Where were objections to the draft amendments to be sent?
They were to be addressed to the Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai, 600 009, within fifteen days from Gazette publication.
