J'khand waives stamp duty, registration fees on land donated for devpt projects

Ranchi: The Jharkhand govt on Monday announced that stamp duty and registration fees on land donated to the state or its undertakings for public purposes have been waived, a move aimed at encouraging voluntary land transfers for development projects.The department of revenue, registration & land reforms, in its notification issued on Monday, stated that the exemptions would apply to land donated through gift deeds for civic infrastructure, urban and rural development, including roads, parks and libraries.“The govt has granted full exemption on stamp duty under the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, and registration fees waiver under the Registration Act, 1908, for such transactions,” it said.The benefit will also extend to land identified and notified under the state’s rehabilitation and resettlement policy. The decision is expected to ease procedural and financial burdens on landowners willing to transfer land for public use, while also supporting faster execution of infrastructure projects, officials said.“The exemptions will be applicable from the date of issuance of the notification,” the order stated.The move had received the state cabinet’s approval during its meeting held on May 27. By reducing the cost of formalising land transfers, the state govt hopes to boost availability of land for welfare and development works, particularly in urban expansion and rural infrastructure creation.