Bengaluru: The “Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prohibition of Transfer of Certain Lands (Amendment) Bill will be another feather in the cap of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who is renowned to keep his words.
As promised before the election, he has got the consent in a special cabinet meeting to present the amendment bill in the first session itself.
A meeting of Dalit community leaders and lawyers was held two days before the special cabinet meeting. As per the unanimous decision expressed in this meeting, the cabinet meeting has agreed to remove the time limit for filing complaints. The state government and the Chief Minister have taken a historic step.
What is in the amendment?
A special cabinet meeting held yesterday approved the amendment of the Act to remove the time limit for the land owner to file a complaint under Section 5(1) of the Act in case the land allocated to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has been transferred without the permission of the government.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who proposed to amend and strengthen the PTCL Act in the 2023-24 budget, has moved ahead with the aim of presenting the amendment in the current session itself. On July 17, a meeting of the leaders of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes communities was held at Vidhansouda and their opinions were sought. Now the amendment has been approved in a special cabinet meeting and preparations are being made to introduce the bill in the legislature.
The Chief Minister has demonstrated his commitment to the welfare of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities and has proved that the government keeps up with the promises it has made.