Context: Recently, NITI Aayog released a draft model Act and rules for states on conclusive land titling.

• A conclusive title may be defined as unassailable and conclusive proof of ownership of property.

The aim is to

• Reduce land related litigations.
• Ease the land acquisition process for infrastructure projects.

Under The Model Act

• State governments will have the power to order for establishment, administration and management of a system of title registration of immovable properties.
• The land dispute resolution officer and land title appellate tribunal are one-shot institutions which will fade away as the work reduces.
• After three years of its notification, the register of title attains conclusivity without any external action.
• Conclusive land titles are guaranteed by the state for correctness and entail provision for compensation by the state in case of any dispute.
• Any person aggrieved may file an objection before the Title Registration Officer within three years from the date of such notification. Following this, the Title Registration Officer shall make an entry to that effect in Register of Titles and in the Register of Disputes and refer the case to the land dispute resolution officer.
• A party aggrieved with an order of the land dispute resolution officer may file an appeal before the Land Titling Appellate Tribunal within 30 days of passing of such an order.
• A special bench of High court shall be designated to deal with appeals against the orders passed by the Land Titling Appellate Tribunal.

Significance

• Conclusive land titles are guaranteed by the state for their correctness and entail provision for compensation by the state in case of any disputes.
• Conclusive land titling will facilitate easy access of credit to farmers and reduce a large number of land-related litigations.
• It will also enable transparent real estate transactions and land acquisition for infrastructure development.
• Guaranteed title systems have been developed and adopted in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

What is Land Title?

• A land title determines the ownership of land or immovable property.
• In India, Land is a State subject and the Central government cannot legislate on it.
• Land ownership is established through registered sale deeds, record of rights, property tax receipts and government survey documents. This means, land ownership is presumptive in nature, and subject to challenge.