Maharashtra Revenue Minister Orders Free Regularisation of Small Land Parcels
Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has announced free regularisation of small land parcels purchased in violation of the Fragmentation Act, benefiting nearly 6 million property owners and 30 million residents.
MaharashtraPropertyLand RegularisationFragmentation Act712 Land Title DocumentReal Estate MaharashtraNov 19, 2025
Entries citing transactions made against the Maharashtra Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Act will be removed from the 7/12 land title document, Bawankule stated. The newly issued eight-point procedure will finally make thousands of long-pending small-plot transactions in Maharashtra legal.
The revenue department has clarified that the procedure applies to land transactions executed between November 15, 1965, and October 15, 2024. District collectors, settlement commissioners, land record officials, registration authorities, and divisional commissioners have been sent instructions following a government gazette issued on November 3.
The decision covers areas under planning authorities, such as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and its counterparts in Pune and Navi Mumbai, residential and commercial zones, cantonment lands, regions marked for non-agricultural use in regional plans, and peripheral areas adjoining village gaothans (original settlements).
Under the new rules, landowners will now be able to have their names recorded on the 7/12 land title document. Cancelled mutation entries will be re-examined and approved, enabling the buyer's name to be entered as the occupant. Names currently listed under 'other rights' will be shifted to the main 'occupant' category, and notes stating 'transaction against the Fragmentation Act' will be removed.
Unregistered transactions will also receive relief. Citizens who completed deals only on notarised papers or stamp documents will be encouraged by talathis and circle officers to register the deeds. After paying the applicable stamp duty and registration, their names will also be added to the 7/12 document.
The government has clarified that once regularisation is completed and the buyer's name is reflected in the official records, there will be no future restrictions on sale or transfer. This move is expected to provide major relief to middle-class landowners in urban and semi-urban areas, granting full legal validity to their properties.
Earlier, citizens had to pay 25 per cent of the land's market value as a penalty to regularise such transactions, which was later reduced to five per cent. Despite these reductions, many people remained reluctant to regularise their properties. The state has now made the process completely free, a decision expected to benefit nearly 6 million families, or 30 million people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Maharashtra Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Act?
The Maharashtra Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Act is a law that restricts the division of agricultural land into smaller parcels to prevent land fragmentation and maintain agricultural productivity.
Who will benefit from the free regularisation of small land parcels?
Approximately 6 million property owners and 30 million residents across Maharashtra will benefit from this initiative, particularly those who have purchased small land parcels in violation of the Fragmentation Act.
What is the 7/12 land title document?
The 7/12 land title document is an official record maintained by the revenue department that provides details about the ownership, area, and other relevant information of a piece of land in Maharashtra.
What is the new eight-point procedure for regularisation?
The eight-point procedure includes removing entries citing transactions against the Fragmentation Act from the 7/12 land title document, re-examining and approving cancelled mutation entries, and encouraging unregistered transactions to be registered.
Will there be any future restrictions on the sale or transfer of regularised land?
No, once the regularisation is completed and the buyer's name is reflected in the official records, there will be no future restrictions on the sale or transfer of the land.
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