Maintain rule of law: HC on encroachment on govt land

When Advocate General Anil Sinha informed the court that the state has sanctioned Rs 50 crore for construction of campus of a National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL) at Nagri and that a boundary wall was being constructed.

When he said that some parts of the land was being cultivated unlawfully, the division bench of Chief Justice P C Tatia and Jaya Roy said the government should maintain rule of law and ensure that a few people did not disturb its process.

The next date for hearing was set on September 3.

After losing a court battle through a PIL against government's acquisition, a section of villagers resorted to violence on July 4, pulling down the boundary wall during a clash with the police, in which Superintendent of Police (Rural) A V Minz had suffered a head injury.

The dispute centres round ownership of 227 acres in Nagri where campuses of IIM-Ranchi, NUSRL and IIIT are proposed to be set up.

Villagers claim the state's land acquisition procedure followed in the 1956-7 was faulty and that they were in possession of the land, and also paid tax to the government till 2011.