G.O.(Ms) No.117, Fixation of Guideline Value for Government Lands, 2022
The Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Land Disposal Wing, LD.4(1) Section, issued Government Order (Ms.) No.117 on 18 March 2022. It establishes a uniform method for fixing the guideline value of Government land by using the highest guideline value among all immediately adjacent private lands. The Commissioner of Land Administration and District Collectors must apply this method whenever the guideline value of poramboke land needs to be fixed.
What the Government Order governs
Government Order (Ms.) No.117, issued by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Land Disposal Wing, LD.4(1) Section, on 18 March 2022, governs the fixation of guideline values for Government land. The direction applies to the Commissioner of Land Administration and District Collectors in all cases where a guideline value must be fixed for poramboke land.
Guideline and market values of Government land may be required for purposes including transfer, alienation, lease and assignment. The document notes that there had been no specific instructions for determining the guideline market value of Government land.
Uniform valuation method
Government Order (Ms.) No.117 requires officials to follow these steps:
- Identify every parcel of land immediately adjacent to the Government land.
- Obtain the guideline value of each surrounding private parcel.
- Select the highest of those private land guideline values.
- Fix that highest value as the guideline value of the Government land.
The method focuses on immediately adjoining private lands. It replaces discretion in choosing one comparable private property as the data land for fixing the Government land's guideline value.
Reason for the change
The Revenue and Disaster Management Department recorded that the earlier common practice was to select a similar private land within a radius of 1.6 kilometres. Officials would use its guideline value and examine sales statistics for similar lands from the preceding three years.
The Commissioner of Land Administration proposed considering potential land use rather than linking Government land value mainly to soil type or land revenue. After considering possible differences involving agricultural land, house sites and land adjoining roads, the Government decided that selecting the highest guideline value among adjoining lands would protect the Government's interest, support uniformity and reduce subjective selection.
Who may be affected
Government Order (Ms.) No.117 directly guides the Commissioner of Land Administration and District Collectors when valuing poramboke land. It may also be relevant to parties involved in the transfer, alienation, lease or assignment of Government land.
Owners of private land immediately adjoining Government land may find that their property's recorded guideline value is used as one of the inputs. If surrounding guideline values appear too low, the District Collector should take action to revise them through the procedure prescribed by the Registration Department.
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
How will the guideline value of Government land be calculated?
Officials must identify all immediately adjacent private lands, collect their guideline values and adopt the highest value as the guideline value of the Government land.
Does Government Order (Ms.) No.117 apply to poramboke land?
Yes. The Commissioner of Land Administration and District Collectors are directed to use the prescribed method in every case requiring fixation of the guideline value of poramboke land.
What happens if the guideline values of surrounding lands are too low?
If the District Collector considers the surrounding guideline values too low for any reason, the Collector should take action to revise them under the procedure prescribed by the Registration Department.
Can the value of my private land be used when nearby Government land is valued?
Yes, if the private land is immediately adjacent to the Government land. Its guideline value will be considered along with those of all other surrounding private parcels, and the highest value will be adopted.
