PATIALA: An annotation on Punjab Land Reforms Act by Swaran Singh Boparai Financial Commissioner (Appeals) during the course of disposal of an appeal concerning land ceiling provisions of the act recently is reported to have raised the vital issue of imposing land ceiling of 17.5 acres on agriculturists considering a family as one unit He has commented that a “grave injustice” had been done to the farmers by forcing curbs on land ownership. He has reportedly recommended abolishing the land ceiling provisions in the act.

The Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) led by Ajmer Singh Lakhowal has welcomed the comments of the financial commissioner and congratulated him for taking a bold stand in favor of farming class. The BKUs propaganda secretary Satnam Singh Behru in a press note on Oct.26 said imposition of land ceiling on the farmers was violation of their prerogative rights.

Behru said that government had enforced land ceiling two times after independence. He said that on the first time in 1956 a ceiling of 30 acres of land per farmer was imposed and again in 1972 a limit of 17.50 acres of land was fixed He said that on the other hand there was no ceiling on urban property and an industrialist could set up as many as industries as he desired. He said that whenever the government acquired agricultural land the market value was paid but in case of acquisition under the Land Ceiling Act a meager compensation was given to them.

The BKU has endorsed the stand of Boparai that land ceiling on farmers considering their family as one unit was unfair to women. He said that to evade the ill-effects of the act; a large number of couples had taken divorce. This act directly violated the constitutional right of equal status for women.

The BKU has also applauded an earlier stand taken by Boparai opposing the construction of the Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal on the plea that the Rajiv Longowal agreement had lost its worth and construction of the canal is also linked with it. He said that farmers of Punjab were indebted to Boparai.

The BKU Leader has also applauded the stand taken by power and irrigation minister Harcharan Singh Brar against the move to hike the power tariff for the agriculture sector. He said that other ministers and officers should also struggle to protect the interests of farmers.

The union has warned the government if power rates were increased an agitation would be started.

Article extracted from this publication >> November 6, 1992