The Conformity of Use Rights Over State Land and the Boundaries of Authority For Physical Control by Regional Governments Against Citizen Freehold Titles

Abstract

Overlapping certificates between government institutions and citizens represent a complex issue in Indonesian land law. This study aims to analyze the conformity of the legal standing of regional government Use Rights (HP) adjacent to citizens' Freehold Titles (SHM), as well as the boundaries of authority for physical control over disputed regional assets. This normative juridical study employs statutory, conceptual, and case approaches, focusing on the land dispute in Tubanan Village between the Regional Government of Jepara (HP No. 14) and a citizen with the initials AHS (SHM No. 454). The results indicate that the issuance of the Jepara Regional Government's Use Right does not meet the conformity of land law because it was issued over a land object already encumbered by a valid, earlier-issued SHM, meaning thirdparty grant documents do not automatically invalidate existing civil rights. Furthermore, unilateral physical enforcement by the Regional Government using Satpol PP personnel constitutes an abuse of authority (detournement de pouvoir). Under administrative and agrarian law, the real execution of physical control over disputed regional assets is restricted by the absolute authority of judicial institutions through legally binding decisions, rendering unilateral actions an unlawful act by the government (onrechtmatige overheidsdaad). This study recommends resolving the dispute through reconciliatory mediation or judicial mechanisms to ensure legal certainty.