CAG Audit Exposes Irregularities in SC/ST Land Transfers in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: A draft audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India has uncovered significant irregularities in the transfer of land owned by Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities in Odisha.

The findings suggest that several transactions were approved in violation of legal safeguards intended to protect vulnerable landowners from exploitation.

The audit, which reviewed transactions between 2018 and 2023, examined a sample of land transfers across multiple sub-divisions. A substantial portion of these cases was found to be inconsistent with prescribed rules, indicating systemic lapses in oversight.

In many instances, officials permitted land sales citing urgent medical needs. However, auditors pointed out that such approvals were questionable, given that the state already provides healthcare coverage through schemes like Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana.

In several cases, there was little or no documentation to support claims of medical emergencies, raising doubts about the legitimacy of these approvals.

The report also noted that land transfers were allowed for purposes such as marriage expenses, education, housing, and loan repayment—reasons that are generally restricted under existing guidelines.

In many of these cases, supporting records were either incomplete or entirely absent, pointing to procedural lapses.

Under the Odisha Land Reforms Act, 1960, land belonging to SC/ST individuals cannot be transferred to non-SC/ST buyers without prior approval from competent authorities. The law is designed to ensure that marginalised communities retain access to land as a source of livelihood.

However, the audit found instances where permissions were granted without adequate verification, and in some cases, landowners were left with holdings below the minimum required for subsistence.

Auditors also flagged patterns suggesting that some transactions may have been used to indirectly transfer land to ineligible buyers. In certain cases, land purchased from SC/ST individuals was resold within a short period, raising concerns about potential misuse of legal provisions.

While some officials defended their decisions, stating that approvals were granted after due verification, auditors found these explanations insufficient. Responses from concerned departments are expected to be included in the final version of the report.

The findings have raised broader questions about enforcement of land protection laws and the effectiveness of administrative oversight in safeguarding the rights of vulnerable communities.