Rajasthan Assembly Passes Disturbed Areas Bill | 17 Mar 2026
Why in News?
On March 6, 2026, the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly passed the Rajasthan Disturbed Areas (Control of Transfer of Immovable Property) Bill, 2026. The legislation aims to regulate the sale and transfer of property in areas officially notified as "disturbed" to prevent forced migrations and maintain communal harmony.
Key Points:
- Prior Permission Mandatory: In any area notified as 'disturbed' under the Act, no person can transfer (sell, gift, or lease) immovable property without the prior written permission of the District Collector.
- Verification Process: Before granting permission, the Collector must hold an inquiry to ensure that the transfer is being made voluntarily and is not the result of coercion, threat, or "distress sale" due to communal tension.
- Definition of ‘Disturbed Area’: The State Government can notify an area as "disturbed" for a specific period if it is satisfied that public peace and tranquility are threatened by riots or communal bridge-building issues.
- Penalties for Violation: Any transfer made without following the prescribed procedure will be considered null and void. Parties involved may face imprisonment up to two years or a fine.
- Objectives: The Bill seeks to check the trend of specific communities being forced to leave their ancestral neighbourhoods due to localized pressure, which often leads to the creation of mono-religious pockets.
- Curbing Distress Sales: It protects vulnerable property owners from being forced to sell their assets at throwaway prices during periods of social unrest.
- Maintaining Demographic Balance: By regulating transfers, the government aims to preserve the diverse social fabric of historic urban centres.
- Significance:This highlights the state's power to enact "reasonable restrictions" on individual rights to maintain public order.
- Communal Harmony: It reflects a proactive legislative approach to preventing the long-term sociological impacts of communal friction.