HC directs govt to act against encroachers
Cuttack: Orissa high court has come down heavily against encroachers and has directed the state to rid govt land of illegal settlers within three months of confirmation by a competent authority.
Issuing a set of guidelines to the govt, the two-judge bench of Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice M S Raman said, "The state shall make an extensive enquiry and/or investigation in relation to an encroachment over govt land by engaging competent authorities including the Amin for relay and survey of the plots belonging to the govt."
The bench stated that upon such exercise, if govt land is found to have been encroached upon, the state shall immediately take steps as permissible under law for eviction, particularly invoking provisions of the Odisha Prevention of Land Encroachment Act, 1972.
"Removal of the encroachments should not exceed beyond three months from the date of the report of the surveyor/Amin or the other competent authority," the bench said while disposing of a PIL recently.
The PIL concerned the alleged thriving of a furniture manufacturing unit, an oil mill and parking area for transport vehicles and tractors over nearly one acre of encroached govt land (forest category) near Belpal under Badasahi tehsil in Mayurbhanj district. In the petition, social activist Kamala Singh alleged that the govt is not taking any steps for their removal. Advocate Pravas Chandra Jena made submissions on the petitioner's behalf.
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