Assam Legislative Assembly today passed the Assam Fixation of Ceiling on Land Holdings (Amendment) Bill,  2025, in the State Assembly to provide land settlement to tea garden workers residing in labour lines. This move will provide land rights to over 3 lakh 33 thousand tea garden workers, who have been living in the labour lines without any title to such lands. This Bill excluded the Joloha tea garden workers who belongs to Muslim community.  

 

This amendment excludes “labour lines” from the purposes ancillary to special cultivation. At present, tea garden workers residing in labour lines occupy land without clear legal title or statutory protection. The amendment, by excluding labour lines from ancillary purposes and providing for preferential settlement with tea garden workers, secures their land rights. This will ensure long-term housing security and reduce vulnerability to displacement. 

 

The Bill authorises the government to acquire lands under labour lines in such a manner as may be prescribed and provides that all rights, titles, interests and encumbrances of such acquired lands shall be vested in the government.

As per the data shared by the districts concerned, the total number of tea estates is 825, and the total area under labour colonies is around 2,18,553 bighas.