Maharashtra Assembly Unanimously Approves Land Revenue Decentralization Bill
The Maharashtra state assembly has taken a significant step toward administrative simplification with the unanimous passage of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2026. This landmark legislation fundamentally alters how minor breach-of-condition issues on government-leased or occupied lands are handled across the state.
Decentralization to District and Divisional Levels
Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who introduced Bill No. 28, explained that the amendment transfers substantial decision-making authority from Mantralaya to district collectors and divisional commissioners. This strategic decentralization means approximately 90% of routine cases will now be resolved at the local level, dramatically reducing the administrative burden on the state headquarters.
"Previously, even for minor infractions, citizens had to navigate the cumbersome process of sending files to Mantralaya in Mumbai," Bawankule stated during the assembly session. "This created excessive bureaucratic workload and forced ordinary people to make repeated, costly trips to the state capital for basic approvals. Our reform empowers local authorities to decide cases involving values up to ₹1 crore, reserving only high-value matters for ministerial review."
Addressing a Critical Legal Gap
Senior revenue officials have highlighted that the amendment fills a crucial void in Maharashtra's land governance framework. Until now, the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code lacked explicit statutory provisions for regularizing breaches on government-granted occupancy or leasehold lands. The process operated under administrative circulars, which frequently resulted in prolonged litigation and procedural delays.
To establish formal legal backing, the legislation introduces two new sections—37A and 328A—into the existing code. These provisions create a structured, transparent mechanism for regularization, significantly reducing the potential for legal disputes and providing much-needed clarity to land transactions.
Cross-Party Support and Expected Benefits
The bill received enthusiastic bipartisan support, with legislators from all political parties praising its focus on administrative efficiency. Lawmakers noted that this shift will enable the state government to concentrate on complex, high-stakes matters rather than routine local issues, optimizing resource allocation across Maharashtra's governance structure.
Revenue officials in Pune confirmed that this reform addresses a long-standing demand from both citizens and administrators. The changes are anticipated to deliver multiple benefits:
- Streamlined government land transactions
- Reduced case pendency in revenue departments
- Enhanced legal clarity for land governance
- Decreased citizen burden and travel expenses
- Improved transparency in regularization processes
This comprehensive reform represents a major advancement in making Maharashtra's land revenue system more citizen-friendly and operationally efficient. By empowering local authorities with decision-making capabilities, the state aims to create a more responsive and accessible administrative framework for resolving land-related matters.
