Chennai

The issue on providing patta to people residing in Janmam lands, the land owned by small time rulers and royal families during British era, was taken up in the Assembly by M Thiravidamani, Gudalur MLA. He said, “Government by introducing section 16A in Tamil Nadu Forest Act, 1982, had declared the Janmam land from Gudalur Estate as Forest land and people who were residing in the same place for several generations were ousted from the place. Government should revoke section 16A from the Forest Act and the Revenue Department should provide patta to the affected people.”

Forest Minister replied that the new section was added with the amendment approved by the Assembly and passed with the final approval by the President and it cannot be revoked. He also said that generally people have no proof for them owning the Janmam land and so they cannot be handed over to them.

State Revenue Minister Udayakumar, in his reply, said that even the Supreme Court had directed the state government to confiscate the Janmam land and in the court case as people who claimed to have resided in Janmam case could not provide proofs that they were residing in the land for several generations, they lost in the case. He also clarified that if proofs are not provided, they will be ousted and it holds good for all the Janmam lands.

However, DMK Treasurer Duraimurugan, asked the government to consider giving patta for Janmam land on humane basis.

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