Assam assembly passes bill allowing 'original inhabitants' to purchase land near protected areas of 'iconic heritage'

Guwahati: The Assam Assembly on Wednesday passed a Bill allowing “original inhabitants” to purchase or possess land within a 5km protected radius of “iconic heritage institutions” that are 250 years old.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during a discussion on the passage of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 said that this is the most secular law enacted in the state.

He added, “Any family that has been living there for three generations till 2006 will be allowed to live even if it does not have a land patta (right). A generation is of 25 years, and it is irrespective of religion. Any other people living there will be evicted if they are staying in an unauthorised manner.”


Sarma said,“no new person will be allowed to purchase land if he or she does not belong to the category of “original inhabitants”, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes.”

According to the Bill, ‘original inhabitant’ is defined as a person who has been living in that protected area along with his family for the last three generations up to January 1, 2006
The bill stated, “the District Commissioner of the district, may evict the unauthorised occupants from the territory of the protected heritage area, other than the persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, indigenous ethnic community and disadvantaged groups.”