The State Acquisition and Tenancy (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was passed in Parliament on Thursday bringing a minor change in the existing law to ease case backlog.

Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury moved the bill and it was passed by voice vote.

There is a provision for a tribunal in the law. In the district level, assistant judge or senior assistant judge can be given the authority to settle the cases, while the district judge can act as the appeal authority until the formal tribunal is formed as per the draft law.

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As per the proposed law, until such a judge is appointed, the government may empower a joint district judge in each district as the judge of the Land Survey Tribunal of the district.

The proposed law mentioned that joint district judge empowered shall be deemed to be the judge of the Land Survey Tribunal appointed under the sub-section.

It said that the government may, if necessary, appoint one or more senior assistant judges or assistant judge as a judge of the Land Survey Tribunal to dispose of the suits transferred by the judge of the Land Survey Tribunal appointed or empowered.

The government shall appoint the judge of the Land Survey Appellate Tribunal from among the persons who are district judges.

Until such judge is appointed, the government may empower the district judge as the judge of the Land Survey Appellate Tribunal of the district.

The district judge, empowered shall be deemed to be the judge of the Land Survey Appellate Tribunal can be appointed.

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The government may, if necessary, appoint one or more Additional District Judges as a judge of the Land Survey Appellate Tribunal to hear appeals transferred by the judge of the Land Survey Appellate Tribunal appointed or empowered under this section.

As per the objective of the proposed law, the amendment has been brought to remove backlog of cases and ensure justice for the mass people.

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