In the middle of land dispute, a land acquisition lawyer can be your saviour

Many of us may have plans to buy land parcel(s) – residential, commercial, or agriculture. I mean having an independent house or a commercial store or a farmhouse is one big dream for most of us. However, we must be aware of the fact that the piece of land that we acquire by way of purchase or lease, or inheritance has clear demarcations and is free from any disputes. Ultimately, no one wants to bear an unnecessary headache while putting in life savings.

There is this other scenario where you already are an owner of a piece of land with a clear definition of its title and demarcation. However, the Government announced a development plan that mentions that the piece of land, which is in your name, will get acquired in due course. The biggest question that arises in your mind in this situation is, what are my options now?

So, it becomes important to understand certain basics of land acquisition, disputes arising out of it, parties affected, the need for a land acquisition lawyer, and so on.

What is Land Acquisition?

In simple words, it is defined as:

• The power of the government to acquire land for the purpose of development and urbanization.
• Until 2013, it was governed by the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. A bill was proposed for amendments that were passed by Lok Sabha but the same is still pending in the Rajya Sabha.
• The government does not require the consent of the landowner for executing this process.
• The government issues a notification to the landowner about the land being acquired.
• The government compensates the landowner reasonably in the process.

What is Land Dispute?

It is simply defined as a disagreement between two parties over the legal right of a particular piece of land. The legal rights include the title, possession, and control of land parcels under consideration.

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Who Can Get Affected By Land Disputes?

Anybody who is a rightful owner of a piece of land can get affected by land acquisition and the related disputes arising in the process. Generally, the affected parties include:

• Individual owner(s)
• Organizations such as NGOs
• Indigenous Groups like tribal and mobile communities 
• Corporates
• State Government
• Central Government

Reasons for Land Disputes

India as a country has so much diversity and multiple interests. However, many-a-times, it becomes an unavoidable reason for land acquisition disputes. Disputes can arise while the government announces the acquisition of land parcels. But there are several other reasons due to which a dispute may arise and the help of a land acquisition lawyer is needed.

Some common ones are:

• Announcements made by the government for development and industrialization
• Conflicts related to the improper demarcation of boundaries
• Ownership conflict between multiple owners
• Conflicts arising out of the inheritance
• Land grabbed violently
• Discrimination based on gender or religion
• Sale of a single land parcel to multiple buyers
• Issues related to payment while using or buying land

Who is a Land Dispute Lawyer?

He or she is a qualified person in land acquisition law and can represent you to defend your dispute settlement claims in a court of law.

People Also Read This: What is a Land Possession Certificate?

Why Do We Need A Land Dispute Lawyer?

The land-related laws generally tend to be complicated. Especially, in a country like India, where land is a state subject and is governed by multiple legal frameworks. Interpreting the laws correctly is the most essential when you are in the middle of a dispute or your land property is getting acquired. Ultimately, getting the right advice is the only thing that matters the most apart from getting a timely redressal to the dispute.

Getting proper legal advice is not a choice but a necessity and hence there is a strong need of consulting a qualified expert who will help in charting your further course of action.

A land dispute lawyer can assist you in the following:

• Doing research related to land records
• Advising you how a particular dispute affects your land property
• Suggesting the possible and correct legal remedies
• Representing your case in courts
• Getting your land-related titles cleared in government records
• Helping clear liens (if any) on your land parcel
• Helping you to avoid mistakes that can lead to financial liabilities in the future

Summing Up

While no one wants to be in the middle of such an ugly situation, several times many of us become a victim of an unwanted unpleasant legal tussle. The biggest problem of such a dispute is that no one knows the time it will take to get a proper resolution. So many different legislations built around land acquisition and disputes further complicate the already twisted situation and make matters worse. The only immediate redressal that comes to one’s mind is a qualified and experienced land dispute lawyer.