Gandhinagar: The Gujarat Government is set to move a significant amendment to regional land laws in the State Assembly with the introduction of Gujarat Bill No. 3 of 2026. Titled the Saurashtra Gharkhed, Tenancy Settlement and Agricultural Lands (Gujarat Amendment) Bill, 2026, the legislation aims to curb unauthorized land occupation and illegal property transfers in the Saurashtra region.

Heavy Financial Penalties for Violators

A key highlight of the bill, introduced by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, is the introduction of stringent financial deterrents. Under the proposed amendment to Section 75-A, any individual or institution in whose favor an illegal land transfer has been made will face a penalty equal to three times the current Jantri (market value) amount of the land.

Furthermore, the bill empowers the Collector to order the restoration of the land to its original state within one month of such an order being issued. Interestingly, this specific provision regarding penalties is proposed to have a retrospective effect, deemed to have come into force from December 5, 2015.

Stricter Enforcement and State Vesting

The bill modernizes Section 75 of the 1949 Ordinance to streamline how the government deals with wrongful possession of agricultural land. The Collector is authorized to issue a “show cause” notice to parties involved in a suspected illegal transfer.

If the transfer is declared illegal after an inquiry:

• • The parties must provide a written undertaking to restore the land to its original condition within three months.
• • If the land is not restored within this timeframe, it will vest in the State Government, free from all existing encumbrances.

Seeking Uniformity Across Gujarat

According to the “Statement of Objects and Reasons,” the amendment is driven by the need for legislative consistency across the state. Currently, Gujarat operates under three distinct tenancy laws for the Bombay (mainland) area, the Kutch region, and the Saurashtra region.

The state government noted that it is necessary to bring the Saurashtra Ordinance of 1949 in line with the provisions of the 1948 and 1958 Acts governing the rest of Gujarat. By doing so, the government intends to provide a uniform legal mechanism for disposing of illegally occupied land and penalizing those who bypass agricultural land regulations.

The bill was officially published on February 13, 2026, and is expected to be a major point of discussion in the upcoming Assembly session. DeshGujarat