Land Bill in limbo; government to issue executive order

In a bid to promulgate the Land Bill, the government is likely to issue an executive order before the land ordinance lapses on August 31, 2015.CNBC-TV18’s Shereen Bhan reports that the Attorney General is in favour of issuing this executive order and may keep three of the nine changes brought to this law via the existing ordinance.It has been learnt that the executive order will ensure compensation for land acquired under 13 acts including the Coal Bearing Areas Acquisition and Development Act, 1957, National Highways Act, 1956 and Land Acquisition (Mines) Act, 1885.However, the government will stick to amendments made in retro clause in ordinance and would not return any piece of land if not used for 5 years. Meanwhile, experts are of the opinion that any such orders passed will have to be made within the confines of the 2013 Act.