Ordinance Summary
The Kerala Private Forests (Vesting and Assignment) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020
- The Kerala Private Forests (Vesting and Assignment) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 was promulgated on May 22, 2020. It amends the Kerala Private Forests (Vesting and Assignment) Act, 1971. The Act provides that all private forests in the state and their subsequent assignment to agriculturists and agricultural labour for cultivation be vested in the state government. The Ordinance introduces a retrospective provision related to proof of use of land for personal cultivation.
- Private Forests to vest in Government: The 1971 Act transferred to and vested in the state government, the ownership and possession of all private forests in the state of Kerala. Some parts of private forests that are under personal cultivation and within the ceiling limits for land holdings specified under the Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1963 are exempted from this provision. The Ordinance adds that a certificate of purchase issued under the 1963 Act may be used as evidence and not as conclusive proof that the land is under personal cultivation.
DISCLAIMER: This document is being furnished to you for your information. You may choose to reproduce or redistribute this report for non-commercial purposes in part or in full to any other person with due acknowledgement of PRS Legislative Research (“PRS”). The opinions expressed herein are entirely those of the author(s). PRS makes every effort to use reliable and comprehensive information, but PRS does not represent that the contents of the report are accurate or complete. PRS is an independent, not-for-profit group. This document has been prepared without regard to the objectives or opinions of those who may receive it.
