Rajasthan Assembly Passes Bill to Protect Property Rights in Disturbed Areas Amidst Opposition Criticism

Jaipur – The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly passed the Rajasthan Prohibition of Transfer of Immovable Property and Protection of Tenants from Eviction from Premises in Disturbed Areas Bill, 2026, on Friday, amidst strong criticism from the opposition. The bill aims to prevent distress sales of property and safeguard tenants in areas experiencing communal tension.

Key Provisions of the Bill

The legislation introduces regulations for property transactions in areas officially designated as “disturbed” due to significant law and order concerns. According to the state government, the measure is designed to prevent property owners from being compelled to sell their assets at significantly reduced prices during times of unrest.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel emphasized that the bill does not discriminate based on religion or community. “There is no mention of Hindu, Muslim, majority, minority, or any specific community in the bill. For us, all citizens are equal,” he stated during the debate. He further clarified that an area would only be declared “disturbed” under exceptional circumstances, specifically in the event of riots.

The bill also includes provisions for scrutinizing property transactions to ensure fairness and prevent sales below market value. Authorities will verify if properties are being sold at prices lower than their actual worth, protecting vulnerable sections of society from potentially exploitative sales.

Opposition Criticism and Concerns

Leader of the Opposition, Tikaram Jully, launched a strong attack on the government, alleging that the bill is a facade and fails to address the concerns of those affected by the Adarsh Credit Cooperative Society scam, which involved an estimated ₹14,000 crore defrauded from approximately 22 lakh people.

Jully raised concerns about the government’s appointment of lawyers representing the accused in the scam to present their case, questioning whether public funds would be recovered or if the accused would be exonerated. He characterized this action as undermining the government’s stated commitment to “zero tolerance” against corruption.

Other Issues Raised During Assembly Proceedings

During Question Hour, Jully also addressed the issue of vehicle theft in Tonk, highlighting that out of 1433 registered cases, 1056 vehicles remain unrecovered. He accused the police of issuing unnecessary challans to vehicles from outside Rajasthan instead of focusing on vehicle recovery, potentially damaging the state’s image.

Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Leadership (as of March 10, 2026)

• Governor: Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde (since July 27, 2024)
• Speaker: Vasudev Devnani, BJP (since December 21, 2023)
• Chief Minister: Bhajan Lal Sharma, BJP (since December 15, 2023)
• Deputy Chief Minister: Diya Kumari, BJP & Prem Chand Bairwa, BJP (since December 15, 2023)
• Leader of the Opposition: Tika Ram Jully, INC (since January 16, 2024)
• Deputy Leader of the Opposition: Ramkesh Meena, INC (since July 29, 2024)

Political Composition of the Assembly (as of March 10, 2026)

• Total Seats: 200
• Government (127):
  • BJP: 118
  • SHS: 2
  • RLD: 1
  • IND: 6
• Official Opposition (73):
  • INC: 67
  • BAP: 4
  • IND: 2

The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, established in 1952, is a unicameral legislature responsible for making and implementing laws for the state. It meets at Vidhan Bhavan in Jaipur. (Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, Wikipedia)