Assam Assembly Concludes Budget Session with Passage of Key Bills

Key Legislative Developments in Assam

Guwahati, July 29:  On the final day of its Budget Session, the Assam Legislative Assembly approved five significant Bills, including the controversial Assam Land and Revenue Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, following extensive discussions regarding the term "original inhabitant" and its impact on land rights near the state's notable heritage sites.

In addition to the land amendment, the Assembly also ratified the Registration (Assam Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Indian Stamp (Assam Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Assam Fixation of Ceiling on Land Holdings (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Assam State Higher Education Council Bill, 2026.

The most heated discussions revolved around the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation (Amendment) Bill, introduced by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pijush Hazarika on behalf of Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Keshab Mahanta.

Opposition members raised concerns about defining "original inhabitants" as families residing in Assam prior to 1971, coupled with a requirement for proof of three generations before 2006, arguing that these stipulations could lead to confusion and potential constitutional disputes.

In response, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted that the amendment's purpose was narrowly focused on safeguarding land surrounding Assam's historic and religious sites from acquisition by outsiders.

"This is not a new law. We have previously discussed these provisions in this Assembly, and they have already received approval. The amendment simply ensures that areas around heritage sites over 250 years old remain with communities historically linked to those sites. It is not aimed at any religious minority," Sarma explained to the Assembly.

He further clarified that the restrictions would be applicable only to designated heritage zones. "From now on, outsiders will not be able to purchase land in these protected areas. Simply identifying as Assamese will not suffice. If an individual has not been associated with the land for three generations, they cannot acquire land in these designated zones," he stated.

Elaborating on the three-generation requirement, the Chief Minister noted that the government based this on the accepted standard of one generation equating to 25 years.

"The three-generation criterion is not a novel concept. The 25-year standard for one generation has been part of government policy, including during the previous UPA administration. This principle is also applied when determining eligibility for forest land rights for non-tribal communities under the 2006 legislation," he added.

Leader of the Opposition Abdur Rahim Ahmed from the Congress party contended that the Bill should strictly follow the Assam Accord, using March 25, 1971, as the only cut-off date for eligibility.

"The Assam Accord, which has been accepted by all parties and upheld by the Supreme Court, recognizes March 25, 1971, as the cut-off date. We cannot create different categories of citizens through land laws. Land rights should be based on Indian citizenship, not classifications that divide people," he stated while proposing amendments to the Bill.

All India Trinamool Congress MLA Sherman Ali Ahmed also expressed opposition to the legislation, questioning the choice of 2006 as the reference year and warning that the provisions could face constitutional challenges.

In response to these concerns, Sarma assured the Assembly that the government would clarify any ambiguities if necessary.

"I assure the House that the definition is intended solely for iconic heritage institutions. If there is any chance of it affecting other provisions of the Act, we will amend the legislation to explicitly state that the definition applies only to the heritage chapter. There should be no confusion on this," he stated.

Later, the legislators also passed the Assam State Higher Education Council Bill, 2026, after a brief discussion regarding the composition of the proposed Council.

Congress MLA Zakir Hussain Sikdar proposed two amendments to include five MLAs nominated by the Assembly and the senior-most Secretary of the Assam Legislative Assembly as members of the Council.

Education Minister Ranoj Pegu opposed these proposals, emphasizing that the government has consistently maintained that legislators should not directly manage colleges.

"The Assam Government has consistently followed the principle that MLAs should not be directly involved in the management of colleges. We have discouraged the direct involvement of MLAs or political office-bearers in college governing bodies, and we want to maintain that spirit. Therefore, we have not proposed the inclusion of MLAs in the Executive Council," Pegu stated.

He added that while the Assembly plays a role in shaping higher education policy and enacting legislation, the implementation of those policies should remain outside the direct involvement of legislators.

Following the Minister's assurance, Sikdar withdrew his amendments, leading to the passage of the Bill.