Stories
Neighbor Blocked Your Farm Path? Here is What the Law Says and How Farmers Can Act
- •Disputes over boundaries and blocked farm roads are extremely common in rural areas, causing transport issues for farmers.
- •Instead of arguing or fighting, farmers should gather necessary documents including 7/12 extracts, land maps, and photos of the blocked path.
- •Under Section 5 of the Mamlatdars Courts Act 1906, authorities can clear traditionally blocked paths within 24 hours with police help.
- •Section 143 of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code 1966 allows farmers to apply for a new pathway, with a mandatory 90-day resolution limit.
- •If neighbors obstruct the officially ordered clearing of the path, a direct FIR for criminal intimidation and obstructing government work can be filed.
Key Questions Answered
Under Section 5 of the Mamlatdar's Courts Act, 1906, if an age-old traditional path is suddenly blocked, the Tehsildar has the authority to remove the obstruction with police assistance and clear the path within 24 hours. The application must be filed within 6 months of the road being blocked.
An application can be made to the Tehsildar under Section 143 of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966, to demand a new path along a neighbor's boundary. Under new rules, it is legally binding for the Tehsildar to decide on this application within a strict time limit of 90 days.
Farmers should take mobile photos and videos of the blocked path, thorny fence, and stones. Additionally, they must collect essential documents including the 7/12 extract, 8-A extract, official land rough map, and survey numbers of the relevant boundaries.
