<![CDATA[This study aims to analyze the legal force and validity of the Decree (SK) of the Governor of Riau as the basis for state land possession covering an area of 24 hectares in Bagan Manunggal Village by the Branch Leadership of PEPABRI, Bagan Sinembah Sub-district, within the perspective of Law Number 5 of 1960 concerning the Basic Agrarian Regulations (UUPA). This issue is particularly relevant given that the Governor's Decree is frequently employed as an administrative basis for land possession, yet in practice it frequently generates disputes, as reflected in the Decision of the Rokan Hilir District Court Number 55/Pdt.G/2023/PN Rhl. Unlike prior studies that examine the legal force of gubernatorial decrees at a general, doctrinal level, this study offers novelty by testing a specific, decades-old Governor's Decree directly against a single adjudicated case under the post-2021 land acquisition regime, thereby identifying the precise doctrinal points at which such old administrative instruments fail to satisfy current agrarian law. This study employs a normative legal research method with a statutory approach and a case approach, supported by document study and field observation used to corroborate the secondary legal data. The findings indicate that a Governor's Decree cannot serve as an absolute legal basis for state land possession when it is inconsistent with the provisions of the UUPA. Based on an analysis of the court decision, the Governor's Decree in this case fails to satisfy the principles of State Control Rights (Article 2), the Social Function of Land (Article 6), and Legal Certainty for rights holders (Articles 4 and 14). Furthermore, the Decree was not grounded in a thorough verification of the land's status or the rights already attached to the disputed object. The panel of judges held that the Governor's Decree exceeded its jurisdictional authority (ultra vires) and therefore has no binding force in proving land possession. This study affirms that every administrative legal instrument, including a Governor's Decree, must remain subordinate to the normative hierarchy and the principles established under the UUPA. In practical terms, this study provides recommendations to regional governments to exercise greater diligence in issuing decisions pertaining to state land and to strengthen preventive legal protection mechanisms in order to avert disputes. Accordingly, this study is expected to contribute to the realization of a more orderly and equitable land governance system]]>
