Tukde Bandi Kayada (तुकडेबंदी कायदा)

Tukde Bandi Kayada (तुकडेबंदी कायदा) is a land law in Maharashtra (and some other Indian states), often referred to in English as the Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Act.

🔹 Meaning of Tukde Bandi Kayada

• “Tukda” = piece / fragment
• “Bandi” = restriction / prohibition
• So, Tukde Bandi Kayada = Law that prohibits making agricultural land into uneconomical small pieces.

🔹 Why was it introduced?

• In the past, agricultural lands were repeatedly divided among heirs → holdings became very small & fragmented.
• Small plots are uneconomical for farming → low productivity.
• To prevent this, the Bombay Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1947 (commonly called Tukde Bandi Kayada) was enforced.

🔹 Key Provisions

1. No fragmentation of agricultural land below a minimum area (called standard area).
2. Any sale / transfer / partition of land that creates smaller than standard area → considered illegal.
3. Such transfers can be declared void and land may vest in the government.
4. Land holdings may also be consolidated to make them more viable.

🔹 Practical Example

• Suppose in your taluka, the standard area for irrigated land is 1 acre.
• You own 1.5 acres.
• If you try to sell 0.25 acre to someone → this creates a fragment below standard area.
• As per Tukde Bandi Kayada, that sale is illegal.

🔹 Exceptions

• Sale of a fragment to the owner of adjoining land (so that consolidation happens).
• Government acquisition or specific permission under law.