India’s Controversial Land Acquisition Laws

Introduction

On March 10, 2015, the controversial amendments to the land acquisition law were finally passed by the Lok Sabha¹ after facing severe criticism both from the opposition parties as well as from the government's own allies. Once the amendment bill - Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015 ("2015 Law") - becomes an act², it will become easier for the government to acquire private land for public purposes and companies. India has had an archaic land acquisition law – the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 ("1894 Act") which was replaced in 2013 by The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 ("2013 Act"). The 2013 Act was criticized as being anti-industry – it was too rigorous which made land acquisition process difficult and long-winding, thereby reducing the availability of land for industry.