In a big success, Uttar Pradesh IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal led to removal of decades-old encroachment from government land in Gonda.
The matter was pending for close to three decades 30 years, with the administration struggling to reclaim its own land.
Nagpal, a 2010-batch IAS officer currently serving as Divisional Commissioner of Devipatan division, pursued the case in the court strongly and made the petitioner withdraw his case from the Allahabad High Court and surrendered his claim over the land. This multi crore land was earmarked for the commissioner's office and associated buildings.
What is the case?
The encroachment case (Jyoti Vidya Mandir School vs Nagar Palika Parishad, Gonda) relates to Nazul Plot Nos. 514, 515, 524 and 525 in Gonda, which were reserved for the commissioner's office and associated buildings. The dispute had remained pending in court since 1997.
The petitioner Dayanand Mishra had occupied the government owned land claiming that a school was being run on that land.
Nagpal directed officials to conduct inspection of the land and the inspection team reportedly found no students or teachers there, raising questions over the ‘school'.
Following the inspection, Mishra moved the court and withdrew his claim. The administration subsequently secured possession of the land after three decades of encroachment.
According to officials in the Gonda administration, the most significant aspect of the development is that the petitioner has not only withdrawn from the legal battle but has also vacated the disputed site.
After nearly three decades of litigation, the change is therefore both legal and physical. The case has moved towards closure and the land is now free of occupation.
The dispute first reached the courts in 1997 and remained pending for nearly three decades. Now, following the petitioner's affidavit and vacation of the site, the responsibility of protecting the plots lies with the administration.
The administration will take steps to secure the land reserved for the Commissioner's Office and its buildings and ensure that it is used for the designated government purpose.
Vivek Shukla is a management graduate who has worked in corporate worked for 20 years and is now pursuing his passion — news.
