President Pranab Mukherjee approves land ordinance issued by govt for third time

New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee has approved the land ordinance, which was cleared by the Cabinet yesterday for the third time after the government failed to convert it into law during the recently concluded Budget Session of Parliament.

The Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had decided to re-issue the ordinance on Saturday, saying it was necessary for maintaining continuity and providing a framework to compensate people whose land is acquired.

The President has given assent for the re-issuing of the ordinance, official sources said in New Delhi on Sunday.

The ordinance has been issued for the third time and it is the 13th executive order of the NDA government since it came to power in May last year.

The measure was issued for the first time in December last year to amend the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

The ordinance was replaced by a bill. While Lok Sabha has passed it with 10 official amendments, the government has not taken it to the Rajya Sabha as it lacks numbers there.

The ordinance was re-issued in March this year and was due to lapse on June 3. To re-issue the ordinance, the government had prorogued Rajya Sabha during the Budget Session.

An amended land acquisition bill is under consideration of a Joint Committee of Parliament.