Assam Tea Industry Prepares Legal Challenge Against Govt’s Labour Line Land Patta Policy

The Assam tea industry is gearing up for a high-stakes legal battle against the state government’s unilateral decision to acquire "labour lines" and grant land pattas (titles) to workers.

The state government's decision to acquire the labour lines and give land pattas to the labourers has met with opposition from most of the tea estates in the state.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently warned that tea gardens opposing the move would face penalties.

Industry insiders, however, warn that the policy could have disastrous consequences for the viability of tea estates.

"We are left with no choice but to take legal action against a move that seems aimed primarily at appeasing the tea garden vote bank," stated a senior planter and member of the Tea Association of India (TAI).

The industry has expressed "deep frustration" over the lack of dialogue. "It is deeply unfortunate that the government did not consult the industry even once before finalising this decision," the member said, adding that a more constructive and mutually beneficial solution could have been found if they were consulted by the government beforehand.

A primary point of contention is the proposed compensation. The industry has labelled the government’s plan to pay only ₹3,000 per bigha as "negligible." Beyond the land value, tea garden owners are demanding compensation for the extensive infrastructure built over generations.

"We must be reimbursed for the housing, water supply systems, and electrical installations we have developed over decades," said a member of another tea producers' organisation in Assam. The members speaking against the government's move have requested anonymity.

In preparation for a protracted legal fight, the industry is currently mobilising funds and consulting top-tier law firms. "We stand united against this unilateral decision," an industry leader affirmed.

It may be mentioned here that the government’s initiative aims to grant land rights to 333,000 tea worker families across 825 estates. The Chief Minister has defended the move as a historical necessity, noting that tea workers have lived in Assam for 200 years without land ownership.

The "tea tribes" and "ex-tea tribes" are a critical demographic, comprising 18 per cent of Assam’s electorate — a group that has shifted its political allegiance from Congress to the BJP over the last decade.

However, the Consultative Committee of Plantation Associations (CCPA) — the industry's apex body has pointed out that a significant legal hurdle lies in the Plantation Labour Act, 1951, under which labour quarters and "line areas" are classified as statutory facilities.

The industry argues these areas are designated for worker welfare and cannot legally be converted into transferable private ownership.