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What is RERA & How It Protects Land Buyers?Maharashtra Tables Bill to Remove Non-Farm Use Certificate Requirement for Conversion of Agricultural Land
The Maharashtra government has made a substantial step toward streamlining land-use procedures. During the winter session, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule presented the long-standing requirement of a non-farm use certificate called Sanad to the Legislative Assembly.
What Is Being Changed?
Until now, landowners in the state seeking to convert agricultural land into non-agricultural use had to navigate a multi-layered approval process. Even after securing the necessary non-agricultural (NA) permission, they still needed to obtain a Sanad — a legal certificate issued by revenue authorities — before legally developing or selling the land. This added layer often resulted in delays, higher costs, and bureaucratic hassles for ordinary landowners.
Under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025, the requirement to obtain this Sanad will be completely eliminated. Instead, landowners will be required to pay a one-time nominal premium based on the Ready Reckoner rate to regularise the change in land use. The new structure is as follows:
- Up to 1,000 sq. metres: 0.1% of the Ready Reckoner value
- 1,001 to 4,000 sq. metres: 0.25% of the Ready Reckoner value
- Above 4,001 sq. metres: 0.5% of Ready Reckoner value
This premium replaces the need for the Sanad, making the process simpler and more predictable for landowners.
Why This Matters
For decades, the Sanad certificate was seen as a bureaucratic bottleneck that slowed down land conversion and deterred investment and development. Even after earlier reforms between 2014 and 2018 relaxed the NA permission requirement, the Sanad remained a hurdle. The new amendment aims to eliminate that final administrative barrier.
Benefits for Citizens and Landowners
The reform is expected to have several practical benefits:
- Faster Approvals: Land use change will be processed more quickly without the need for a separate Sanad certificate.
- Reduced Costs: With a predictable premium based on Ready Reckoner rates, landowners can better plan their finances without multiple fees.
- Encourages Development: Simplified rules are likely to encourage more residential and commercial development, particularly in peri-urban and rural areas.
- Ease of Doing Business: By cutting red tape, Maharashtra is aligning its land administration with broader national goals of improving the business environment.
Government Assurances
The state government has clarified that the removal of the Sanad requirement will not impact the revenue of local self-governing bodies — such as municipal corporations and panchayats — which will continue to receive their share of taxes and fees as before.
What Happens Next?
The bill has been tabled in the Assembly and must be passed by both houses of the state legislature and receive the Governor’s assent before becoming law. If enacted, it would mark one of the most significant simplifications of land conversion procedures in the state in recent years.
Suhana Khan, daughter of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, is reportedly under legal investigation following her purchase of agricultural land in Thal village, Alibaug, Maharashtra. The property was registered under Deja Vu Farm Private Limited, a business connected to Suhana's family, and was purchased in May 2023 for ₹12.91 crore from the Khote family of Mumbai's Cuffe Parade. During the transaction, she paid ₹77.46 lakh in stamp duty.
The dispute arises due to the status of the land: it was initially granted by the Maharashtra government in 1968 to be used for agriculture and had a 'no-sale' term attached to it. State policy dictates that farmers cannot buy agricultural land until they get permission from the District Collector. The authorities have questioned the validity of the transaction, stating that Suhana had been registered as a 'farmer' in the records.
Legal professionals have opined that the sale may be against land transfer rules, and there are demands for more legal action. The news follows Suhana as she gets set to make her Bollywood acting debut in King, sharing the screen with her dad, and adds to her expanding body of brand endorsement deals with firms such as Maybelline and Lux.
The probe is underway, and more information is awaited.
Sources: India Times, Times of India, Samaa TV, Mathrubhumi English
PMRDA Takes Action Against Illegal Plotting in Charholi Khurd Khed Taluka What Homebuyers Should Know
PMRDA- Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority has started a strong action against illegal land plotting in Charholi Khurd, near Pune. This step is mainly to protect common people, especially middle-class families, from buying plots that are not legal.
What is Illegal Plotting?
Illegal plotting means dividing agricultural land into small plots without taking proper government permissions. These plots are sold for housing, but they do not have official approvals, maps, or basic infrastructure. As a result, people who buy such land face problems later—like not getting permission to build, or losing t heir money if the land is taken back by the government.
What Has PMRDA Done?
PMRDA, under the leadership of its Commissioner, has worked with the police to stop such illegal activities. They have taken action against some developers in Charholi Khurd by removing internal roads, boundary walls, and fences built without permission.
Concern for Buyers
This action has worried many people who already bought such plots, thinking everything was legal. Local leaders have asked PMRDA to give these buyers a chance to explain their situation. They also requested that the government think about ways to regularize these plots so that honest buyers don't suffer.
What Should Buyers Do Before Buying Land?
If you are planning to buy land, especially in areas around Pune, keep these tips in mind:
- Check for NA (Non-Agricultural) Permission: Only buy plots that have this permission.
- Approved Layout Map: Ask for the layout plan approved by PMRDA or the local authority.
- Talk to the Authorities: Visit the PMRDA office or municipal office to check if the land is legal.
- Take Legal Help: Always consult a lawyer before making a big investment like buying land.
Buying a home or plot is a big dream for many families. That’s why it’s important to be careful and well-informed. A little effort before buying can save a lot of trouble later.
Source: Pune Mirror
Pune Ring Road Project Seeks Additional ₹1,220 Crore for Land Acquisition
The Pune Ring Road Project, a large infrastructure initiative aimed at decongesting Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, requires an additional ₹1,220 crore to finalise the land acquisition. The 169-kilometre road will provide smooth connectivity with national highways and divert heavy vehicles off city roads to enhance overall traffic flow.
To date, approximately 90% of the required land is in hand, with the western part virtually complete at 97% and the eastern part at 84%. The extra money is deemed critical to provide equitable compensation to landowners and avoid project time slippage.
Once built, the ring road should greatly improve connectivity, shorten travel times, and support the region's expanding infrastructure requirements. To maintain the momentum and see the project finished on time, the requested funds must be released in a timely manner.
Maharashtra Government Approves 70 Acres for IIM Nagpur’s Pune Campus
In a major boost to higher education in Maharashtra, the state government has approved the allocation of 70 acres of grazing land in Moshi, Pimpri-Chinchwad, for the establishment of a satellite campus of IIM Nagpur. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule confirmed that the land transfer process is already underway and will be completed shortly.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed the decision, emphasising the importance of expanding premier educational institutions, such as IIMs, across the country to support national development. The Pune campus will mark a first for IIMs by offering a flagship program in data science and management outside its main campus.
Strategically located near key industrial hubs, including Chakan, Talegaon, Ranjangaon MIDCs, and the Hinjewadi IT Park, the Moshi site offers excellent connectivity and infrastructure. The new campus will replicate IIM Nagpur’s main campus facilities, including an incubation centre and part-time courses designed for working professionals.
IIM Nagpur Director Bhimaraya Metri highlighted that the Pune campus is part of the institute’s broader expansion plans, which also include future campuses in Goa, Hyderabad, and Singapore.
Sources: Times of India
Punekar News
MyPunePulse
The Bridge Chronicle
Maharashtra to Map Subdivided Land Plots in 18 Talukas Under Pilot Project
The Maharashtra Land Records Department has launched a pilot project to measure and map subdivided land plots (sub-holdings) in selected areas of the state.
Over the years, many plots have been informally subdivided, creating mismatches between the 7/12 land ownership document and official cadastral maps. The project aims to record these subdivisions accurately.
A total of 18 talukas across six revenue divisions have been chosen for the initiative, including Pune, Palghar, Raigad, Thane, Solapur, Sangli, Dhule, Jalgaon, Chandrapur, and Kolhapur.
The work will be executed by private agencies, which are currently being finalised through a tendering process.