The Assam Land and Revenue Control (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was passed by the Assam Assembly on Wednesday. Under this new law, a special deduction has been imposed on the sale and purchase of land within a radius of five kilometers around religious and historical heritage sites of 250 years or more in the state. This Act is an attempt to ensure the protection of religious places and protect the rights of indigenous people.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma cited the example of the famous Maa Kamakhya temple and said that only devotees and tribals should live around such heritage sites. Under the new law, effective January 1, 2006, families who have lived on the reserve for three consecutive generations, or approximately 75 years, will be considered original residents. Even if the land is not leased, these families will be able to live as before.
In future, the right to purchase land within a radius of five kilometers will be reserved only for tribal communities like Ahoms, Marans, Mataks, Chutias, Koch-Rajvanshis and backward classes like Cha tribes and tribals. However, the chief minister clarified that the land of people who already have valid land titles, irrespective of their religion or community, will not be affected.
Describing the law as the most secular law in the state, the chief minister said it would apply equally to the 250-year-old place of all religions. It is an attempt to preserve the cultural environment of the historic religious area. It empowers district commissioners to evict illegal squatters in protected areas, although local protected communities will be exempted.