Maharashtra State Assembly Passes Key Revenue Reform Bills

The Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly has passed two important bills. This bills are aimed at improving administrative efficiency and enable better use of government land. This bills include the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code Amendment Bill and the Maharashtra Stamp Amendment Bill 2026. These reforms allow the use of unused grazing land which known as gairan land for public development projects in municipal areas. While also speeding up stamp duty refund processes.

Maharashtra Land Revenue Code Amendment Bill and Use of Grazing Land

The Maharashtra Land Revenue Code Amendment Bill introduced provisions allowing municipal corporations and municipal councils to use unused grazing land for public works.

These lands are commonly called as the gairan land. And they are the government owned grazing areas that often remain unused within urban limits.

Under the amendment such land can now be used for public interest projects such as roads, infrastructure and community facilities.

However the ownership of these lands will continue to remain with the state government.

And They ensuring that they are not transferred permanently to local bodies.

Availability of Grazing Land for Development Projects

According to government estimates a significant amount of Grazing (gairan) land in Maharashtra can now be utilised for development projects under the new amendment.

The Large portions of these lands exist within municipal boundaries but were previously restricted from development use.

State Officials stated that around 7,700 hectares of land in municipal corporation areas, 4,000 hectares in municipal areas and about 3,000 hectares.

This can be in municipal council regions could potentially be used for public projects.

This move is expected to unlock land resources for infrastructure development across the state.

Rules and Conditions for Using Grazing Land

The government has clarified that the use of grazing land for public works will be strictly regulated.

Local bodies can utilize the land only for projects that serve the public interest and cannot use it for commercial activities.

Before any development work begins the land will be surveyed, documented and cleared of encroachments if necessary.

Additionally the main prior approval from the district collector will be mandatory and the land will continue to be officially recorded as Collector’s land under government ownership.

Maharashtra Stamp Amendment Bill 2026 to Speed Up Refunds

Along with the land reform bill the Assembly also passed the Maharashtra Stamp Amendment Bill 2026.

This bill aims to speed up the processing of stamp duty refund applications.

The amendment increases the financial powers of various authorities under the state’s revenue department.

Earlier under Section 52A of the Maharashtra Stamp Act 1958, officials could approve stamp duty refunds only up to ₹20 lakh.

Meanwhile in higher cases had to be referred to the Chief Controlling Revenue Authority.

The new amendment decentralizes this process, allowing more cases to be resolved at district and regional levels.

Increased Financial Powers for Faster Stamp Duty Refunds

The Maharashtra Stamp Amendment Bill 2026 introduces revised financial limits for several officials to handle refund applications more quickly..

This decentralization aims to reduce delays and clear the backlog of pending cases.

Under the new system district collectors can now approve refunds up to ₹20 lakh instead of ₹5 lakh.

While Deputy Inspectors General of Registration and Deputy Controllers of Stamps can decide cases up to ₹50 lakh.

Cases between ₹20 lakh and ₹1 crore will be handled by senior officers such as the Additional Controller of Stamps and Joint Inspector General.

While cases above ₹1 crore will still be decided by the top authority.

Question

Q. The Maharashtra Land Revenue Code Amendment Bill allows the use of which type of land for public projects?

A. Private agricultural land
B. Forest land
C. Gairan (grazing) land
D. Coastal land