In Maharashtra, certain restrictions on transfer of tribal lands were imposed by the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966.  Broadly, these provisions prohibited the transfer of tribal land without prior permission of the Collector. But such permissions appear to have been given as a matter of routine. The tribals were also induced to sell their lands because of indebtedness and poverty. Government has, therefore, taken the following measures to ensure that tribals are not deprived of their land and that their land already alienated to the non tribal is restored to the :.

1) The Maharashtra Land Revenue Code and Tenancy Laws (Amendment) Act, 1974 2)      The Maharashtra Restoration of Land to Scheduled Tribes Act, 1974

The Maharashtra Land Revenue Code and Tenancy Laws (Amendment) Act, 1974 was brought into force with effect from 6^th July, 1974. This Act imposes stricter restrictions on future alienation of tribal lands to non-tribals. No tribal can, with effect from 6^th July, 1974, transfer his land to a non-tribal, by way of sale (including sales in execution of a decree of a Civil Court or an award or order of any Tribunal or authority), gift, exchange, mortgage, lease or otherwise transfer without the previous sanction (a) of the Collector, in the case of mortgage or lease for a period not exceeding five years, and (b) of the Collector, with previous approval of Government, in other cases.

  For timely and effective implementation of the restrictions imposed by this Act, the Revenue Officers at village level have been instructed to make a note in the "Other Right Column" of the village Form No. VII & XII (which contains the details of each parcel of land held by a holder viz. area, assessment, mode of cultivation etc.) in respect of the land of tribals, to the effect that the land is held subject to the provision of Sec. 36 and 36-A of the code.  Such entry facilitates identification at the time of certifying mutation entries in respect of transfer of land.

The other measure viz. The Maharashtra Restoration of lands to Scheduled Tribes Act, 1974 provides for restoration to a tribal his land which has gone into the hands of a non-tribal during the period from 1^st April, 1957 to 6^th July, 1974 as a result of  validly effected transfers (including, exchanges). Lands purchased or deemed to have been purchased by a non-tribal, during the above period, under the provisions of the Tenancy Act (including acquisition of land regularised on payment of penalty under Tenancy Laws) are also covered by this Act. This Act was brought into force with effect from 1st November, 1975