Rajasthan Assembly Passes Bill to Regulate Property Transfers in Disturbed Areas

Jaipur, March 6: The Rajasthan Assembly approved the Rajasthan Property Transfer Restriction and Tenant Protection Bill, 2026, on Friday. This legislation aims to regulate property transactions in disturbed areas and protect tenants from eviction.

In response to the debate on the bill, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel stated that the law is designed to maintain social balance and harmony. He emphasized that it is not based on any particular religion or community.

Patel questioned, “Have we mentioned Hindu or Muslim in the bill or based it on such grounds?” He reiterated that the government respects all communities and religions.

The law seeks to ensure communal harmony and prevent the government from remaining a bystander during times of tension or instability in any area.

The bill grants the state government the authority to declare certain areas as ‘disturbed’ if public order is affected due to riots or mob violence, or if there is a likelihood of gatherings from a specific community that could disrupt the area’s demographic balance.

Under the law, any property transfer in these notified areas during a specified period will be deemed invalid. Individuals wishing to transfer property in disturbed areas must obtain prior approval from an authority below the rank of a sub-divisional magistrate.

This authority will investigate whether the transfer is consensual, reflects fair value, and whether it could lead to demographic imbalance in the area.

The bill defines ‘fair value’ as the market value of the property or the rate determined by the district-level committee, whichever is higher.

Additionally, the law provides security for tenants in riot-affected areas. If a building is destroyed during riots, the landlord must rebuild it and provide accommodation in the new structure for the tenant.

Anyone wishing to transfer immovable property in a notified disturbed area must submit an application to the competent authority for prior approval.

Upon receiving the application, the authority will conduct a formal inquiry after providing the applicant an opportunity to present evidence.

During the inquiry, the authority will determine if the property transfer falls under the definition provided in the Property Transfer Act, whether both parties have consented as per the Indian Contract Act, 1872, and if the transaction reflects the true value of the property being transferred.

The authority will also assess whether the transfer could lead to members of a single community gathering improperly, potentially disrupting the area’s demographic balance or affecting peaceful coexistence among different communities.

Patel stated that the law aims to safeguard demographic balance and social harmony by preventing forced sales of property during communal tension or violence.

He noted that experiences from various parts of the country indicate that after riots or communal stress, individuals sometimes sell properties at prices below market value due to fear and insecurity, leading to rapid changes in the demographic profile of residential areas.

“This is not just a property issue; it’s a question of social balance,” Patel added. He assured that no area would be declared disturbed arbitrarily, and such decisions would only be made after thorough examination of facts, reports, and administrative inputs.

The bill also proposes the establishment of a monitoring and advisory committee, along with a special investigation team, to assist the government in identifying disturbed areas and maintaining public order.

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