By IANS,
Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda has stayed the order of the state revenue secretary that bans sale of backward communities’ land to higher castes, an official said Thursday.
According to the official, Munda Wednesday sought details of the order and directed its operation to be stayed. In a letter last week to all all 24 district administrations, Land and Revenue Secretary Santosh Kumar cited the Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act, 1908, to ban sale of land owned by members of backward communities to other communities like upper castes.
As per the act, the sale of tribals’ lands to non-tribals is prohibited. Santosh Kumar held that the sale of land of backward communities also comes under this provision.
The order invited the ire of the members of the backward communities, who took out protest marches in several districts to demand its withdrawal. They contended it will prevent them from disposing of their lands and properties for any need like marriage, education and to meet other family situation.