Aiming to address what it believes is “demographic imbalance, communal tension, riots, and public unrest in certain areas” of Rajasthan, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma’s cabinet on Wednesday approved a bill to designate certain areas in the state as “disturbed”.
The Rajasthan Prohibition of Transfer of Immovable Property and Provisions for Protection of Tenants from Eviction from the Premises in Disturbed Areas Bill, 2026, will be tabled in the upcoming budget session of the Rajasthan Assembly.
Addressing journalists after the cabinet meeting, Law Minister Jogaram Patel said areas affected by violence, mob unrest, or what he termed “improper clustering” could be declared “disturbed areas”, where property transfers would be rendered null and void unless approved by a competent authority such as the district magistrate.
“Humare rajya ke kai kshetron mein samuday vishesh ki barhti jansankhya, jansankhya asantulan, sampradayik tanav, saravjanik sadbhavna ki kami ka vistrit prabhav samuday par kaafi samay se dekha ja raha hai (in many areas of our state, the widespread impact of increasing population of a particular community, demographic imbalance, communal tension, lack of public harmony has been seen on the community for quite some time),” he said.
“In particular areas, riots, mob violence, and unrest are created; and many long-time residents are even forced to sell their assets at throwaway prices,” Patel said.
He said that there is a change in demographic profile, and considering this situation, a need has been felt for a long time to control this. He said that the government has been repeatedly requested by the people to bring a law to control such incidents, communal tension and population unrest.
Patel said that the Bill empowers the government to designate certain areas as disturbed areas. Once an area is declared as such, any property transfer will be considered null and void. And if someone wishes to transfer, then it can be done through the competent authority, usually a District Magistrate.
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Areas can be declared as disturbed areas for three years, which can be extended or reduced as per rules and subject to certain conditions. In case of violations, the Bill proposes a 3-5 year imprisonment, and the offences would be non-bailable and non-cognisable.
Terming the Bill “progressive,” Patel said that its passage will protect the properties of permanent residents and the rights of tenants in areas declared as disturbed. Additionally, communal harmony and social structure will be maintained in the state, he said.
