PIL seeks implementation of land ceiling

Kathmandu, December 21-A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed on tuesday in the Supreme Court seeking its order to the governmentto strictly implement the limitation on the size of landholding as per the Land Related Act 2021 and its fifth amendment in 2058 BS.

Advocates Bharatmani Gautam and Thagendra Shrestha jointly filed the case on behalf of an NGO - Rule of Law Protection Society. The petitioners have accused the government authorities including the office of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, the Ministry of Land Reform and Management, the departments concerned under the ministry and the Land Reform Offices of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur Districts of not implementing the provisions of the Act that sets limits on landholding size.

The Act provides authority to government to pool the land if someone is found holding land beyond the limitation and distribute such land among landless communities like ex-Kamaiyas or use it for the uplift of Dalit, backward and indigenous communities.

Under the Act, a person can hold up to ten Bighas of land in the Terai, 25 ropanis in the Kathmandu Valley, and 70 ropanis in hilly the region. Moreover, a person can hold up to one Bigha of land in the Terai, five ropanis in the Kathmandu Valley and five ropanis in the hilly region for the purpose of building home