All land designated for utilization under the Land Use Decree will be referred to the Prime Minister who will have the discretion to designate the land and decisions made by prescribed persons under the decree cannot be challenged.

The Land Use Decree, which has been gazetted by the president, states that the objective of the decree is to utilize designated native lands in a manner that is in the best interest of native land owners and to utilize designated Crown land with a view of achieving optimal returns for the state.

The lands which are to be designated to be utilized shall not be part of any dispute in any court, tribunal, and commission or before any other body exercising a judicial function.

Section 5 states that the ownership of all land under the decree shall remain with the Crown or native landowners until the expiration of the lease or until such time the land is no longer required under the decree.

All leases issued under the decree shall be for a period of not more than 99 years and the lands should not be subject to any dispute.

Under the Land Use Decree, no court, tribunal, commission or any other adjudicating body shall have the jurisdiction to accept, hear, determine, or in any other way entertain any proceeding, claim, challenge or dispute by any person who may challenge the validity of the decree, the decisions of any Minister of State authority under the decree, the terms and conditions of the leases, and the validity of the cancellation of any leases, licenses or other instruments.

The decree also states that all leases issued or renewed under the decree shall take into consideration at all times the best interest of the land owners and the overall wellbeing of the economy.
 

Story by: Roneel Lal