HC orders probe into encroachment of public land in Ghaziabad

Blaming "collusion of state authorities" for "large scale encroachment over public land" in Ghaziabad, the Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to probe grabbing of 13.36 hectares of land in Loni Pargana area of the district.
A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Shiva Kirti Singh and Justice Vikram Nath, on July 12 directed Principal Secretary of Revenue Department to probe the encroachment of land in Loni Pargana, where earlier a lake and, adjacently, some barren tracts were situated.
"The purpose of this inquiry is to find out the officials who were responsible for not preventing such a situation so that action may be taken in accordance with law.

"The other purpose of the inquiry is to enable the state to formulate a policy as to what process should be pursued in the matter for recovering the land or its cost from the enchroachers," the court said while hearing a petition of one Sajid Ullah.
"The result of the inquiry on both counts should be made available to this court at an early date and in any case within two months," the court said adding that the matter be listed for further hearing in the first week of October.
The court noted with dismay that as per the state counsel's submission, "about 600 persons have constructed houses on the land in question 8 to 10 years earlier" and remarked "public spirited persons like the petitioner ought to have moved this court earlier against such a large scale encroachment over public land".

The petition was filed in May this year.
The court also observed that the "allegation that the encroachment is made at the instance of land mafias", "could not have been possible without involvement of concerned authorities responsible for ensuring that no constructions are carried out without sanction and valid permission".
"Such a large scale encroachment over public land must be presumed to be in the knowledge of all concerned and it only reflects collusion of the state authorities with the land mafias in the area," the court added.