The inaugural and joint feedback session on Day 1 set the tone for the training programme by underscoring the urgent need for interdisciplinary approaches and institutional capacity development in land governance. With inputs from Dr. Anil Sain, Mr. Kunal Satyarthi, and Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, the session emphasized the deep-rooted structural issues in land administration—ranging from insecure tenure and encroachment to outdated legal frameworks. The speakers advocated for modernization through technology, digitization of land records, and progressive legal reforms, highlighting the critical role of legal actors in shaping a more just, transparent, and efficient land system in India.

Mr. Anil Sant opened the programme with a historical overview of land administration in India, tracing it from ancient texts like the Arthashastra through the Mughal and British periods. He discussed the impact of the Permanent Settlement, the Transfer of Property Act (1882), and the Land Acquisition Act (1894) on the rural agrarian economy and tenancy structures.

Dr. Sanjivini Raina examined the tension between private property rights and the doctrine of eminent domain. She explored national and international frameworks, referencing Article 17 of the UDHR, Kelo v. City of New London, and Tekabo AO v. Sakumeren AO (2004). She elaborated on the transformation from the 1894 Act to the LARR Act, 2013, with its emphasis on Social Impact Assessments (SIA).

A detailed account of Uttar Pradesh’s land reforms, focusing on the UP-Tenancy Act, 1939, and the landmark Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950, highlighting their amendments and lasting socio-economic impact.