High Court
Case Details
Court No. - 3 Case :- WRIT - C No. - 38542 of 2022 Petitioner :- Mo. Zaki Respondent :- State Of U.P. And 4 Others Counsel for Petitioner :- Shashi Bhushan Mishra,Ashish Kumar Mishra Counsel for Respondent :- C.S.C.,Samarth Sinha Hon'ble Surya Prakash Kesarwani,J. Hon'ble Anish Kumar Gupta,J. 1. Heard Sri Shashi Bhushan Mishra, learned counsel for the petitioner, Sri Rajiv Gupta, learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel for the State respondents and Sri Shakti Swaroop Nigam, learned Senior Advocate assisted by Sri Namit Srivastava and Sri Samarth Sinha, learned counsel for the respondent no.5. 2. This writ petition has been filed praying for the following relief:- “(i) Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of Mandamus commanding/directing the respondent authorities to vacate the Araji No. 410 measuring area 290 Sq. Meters situated in Umarpur Neewa, Pargana and Tehsil Sadar, District Prayagraj (the then Allahabad) from the illegal encroachment of the respondent no. 5 within stipulated period as fixed by this Hon’ble Court and handed over the petitioner. (ii) Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of Mandamus commanding/directing the respondent no. 5 not to interfere in the peaceful possession of the petitioner over the land in dispute. (iii) Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of Mandamus commanding/directing the respondent no. 2- Commissioner, Prayagraj Division, Prayagraj to decide the application dated 10.10.2022 filed by the petitioner within stipulated period as prescribed by this Hon’ble Court (Annexure No. 10 to the writ petition).” 3. Counter affidavit on behalf of respondent no.3 filed today by the learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel is taken on record. 4. Rejoinder affidavit to the counter affidavit filed by the respondent no.5 has been filed today, which is also taken on record. 5. Briefly stated facts of the present case are that the petitioner has purchased a residential plot measuring 290 sq. mtrs. of Khasra plot no. 410 situate in Village Umarpur Neewa, Tehsil Sadar, District Prayagraj by registered sale deed dated 6.01.2005. Behind the aforesaid Khasra plot no. 410, there is Khasra plot no. 406 over which plotting was done by someone, allegedly by the respondent no.5. The way to approach Khasra plot no. 406 was from northern side as has been stated in the enquiry report dated 22.9.2022 filed as Annexure CA-1 to the counter affidavit of respondent no.3. The petitioner has alleged that the respondent no.5 has forcibly and illegally carved out a cemented road over the aforesaid residential plot of the petitioner and put an iron gate. The petitioner objected to it but he was threatened and when he approached the authorities no action was taken by the local police. It has been alleged by the petitioner that respondent no.5 is a bhumafia who has illegally encroached the land of the petitioner. 6. From the very beginning, the petitioner has been complaining to the authorities but no action was taken. Ultimately, he made a complaint no. 4001751024254 dated 10.02.2021 on I.G.R.S.. The aforesaid complaint dated 10.02.2021 filed as
Decision
Annexure-4 to the writ petition is reproduced below:- "मैं मो० जकी पु्ቔ स्व० मोहम्मद शमी नि(cid:21)वासी ्ቇाम उमरपुर (cid:21)ीवां धूम(cid:21)गंज का हू भूमानि या हस(cid:21) एखलाक उ % रिरजवा(cid:21) अहमद पु्ቔ एखलाक अहमद व उसका लड़का जिजशा(cid:21) अहमद अभी भी मेरी जमी(cid:21) पर रास्ता ब(cid:21)ाकर उसके पीछे अवैध रूप से ्ቇाम सभा की जमी(cid:21) बेच रहे है और मेरे जमी(cid:21) पर अवैध रूप से गेट लगाकर कब्जा करे हुए है मै जब भी अप(cid:21)ी जमी(cid:21) पर जाता हू ँ तो हस(cid:21) एखलाक उ % रिरजवा(cid:21) अहमद व उसका लड़का और उ(cid:21)के साथ 4,5 अ्ሺात लोग मुझे मार कर भगा देते है और बोलते है दुबारा इस जमी(cid:21) पर मत आ(cid:21)ा (cid:21)ही तो जा(cid:21) से हाथ धो बैठोगे। भुमानि या हस(cid:21) एखलाक उ % रिरजवा(cid:21) अहमद (cid:21)े अवैध रूप से उमरपुर (cid:21)ीवां उपरहार तहसील सदर जिजला ्ቚयागराज में ्ቇाम सभा की जमी(cid:21) व सीिሴलग की जमी(cid:21) व मेरे जैसे और भी भु्ሹभोगी लोगो के साथ इसी तरह का काय% कर चुका है। जबनिक मै(cid:21)े पूव% मे ही 1- मुख्यमं्ቔी उ०्ቚ० सरकार लख(cid:21)ऊ, 2- उपयु्ሹ ्ቚयागराज मण्डल ्ቚयागराज , 3- जिजलाधिधकारी ्ቚयागराज, 4- डी०जी०पी० लख(cid:21)ऊ, 5- आई०जी० रेन्ज ्ቚयागराज, 6- ्ቚभारी नि(cid:21)री्ቌक धूम(cid:21)गंज ्ቚयागराज, 7- अपर जिजलाधिधकारी/मुख्य राजस्व अधिधकारी ्ቚयागराज ँ उसके बाद भी भुमानि या हस(cid:21) एखलाक उ % रिरजवा(cid:21) को सूधिचत कर चूके हू 2 ं अहमद पु्ቔ एखलाक अहमद के खिखला कोई भी काय%वाही (cid:21)ही हुई। इसके खिखला कठोर काय%वाही कर(cid:21)े की कृ पा करे। मै आजीव(cid:21) आपका आभारी रहू ंगा।" 7. The aforesaid complaint was lastly sent to the concerned police station-Dhoomanganj where nothing was done. Again the petitioner submitted a complaint before the District Magistrate, Prayagraj on 24.9.2021, filed as Annexure-5 to the writ petition, which was followed by another reminder complaint dated 03.03.2022, filed as Annexure-6 to the writ petition and another complaint dated 25.06.2022 addressed to the Additional Director General of Police, Prayagraj was made by the petitioner. He also made a complaint to the SHO, Police Station-Dhoomanganj, Prayagraj on 18.06.2022. He again made a complaint dated 07.10.2022 to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Prayagraj, and Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Prayagraj and other authorities on 12.10.2022 which was followed by another complaint dated 21.11.2022 addressed to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Prayagraj and ADGP, Prayagraj which was received in the office of ADGP on 29.10.2022 and a direction was issued to the SSP/Prayagraj for registering first information report and take necessary action. When nothing was done by the police authorities, the petitioner again moved a complaint dated 25.06.2022 before the Commissioner, Prayagraj Division, Prayagraj which was received in the office of the Commissioner on 28.06.2022. The Commissioner, Prayagraj Division, Prayagraj passed an order dated 28.6.2022 directing the District Magistrate, Prayagraj to take action in accordance with law. It appears that thereafter, the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Sadar, Prayagraj without enquiring and looking into the allegations, sent a letter dated 25.07.2022 to the Commissioner, Prayagraj Division, Prayagraj that the dispute is of civil nature. The petitioner again submitted a complaint dated 10.10.2022 3 before the Commissioner Prayagraj Division, Prayagraj and pursuant to the directions of the Commissioner, the Sub Divisional Magistrate constituted a team of revenue officers including the Lekhpal and the Inspector In-charge of Dhoomanganj, Prayagraj and Chowki In-charge, Umarpur Neewa, Prayagraj among others. 8. As per counter affidavit of the respondent no.3 an enquiry was conducted by the Additional City Magistrate-II, Prayagraj, who took the statements of local residents, namely, Satyendra Kumar, Sushil Chowdhary, Pradeep Kumar Pal, Hasan Ekhlakh @ Rizwan Ahmad, Vineet Pal and Mohd. Azam Khan and submitted a report dated 22.09.2022. The statement given by the aforesaid Satyendra Kumar and Sushil Chowdhary, as incorporated in the enquiry report dated 22.09.2022 are reproduced below:- "बया(cid:21) सत्येन््ቖ कु मार पु्ቔ स्व० रघु(cid:21)ाथ ्ቚसाद नि(cid:21)वासी ्ቇाम उमरपुर (cid:21)ीवां उपरहार परग(cid:21)ा व तहसील सदर ज(cid:21)पद ्ቚयागराज का नि(cid:21)वासी हू ँ। मो० जकी पु्ቔ स्व० मो० समी नि(cid:21)वासी उमरपुर (cid:21)ीवां उपरहार का स्थायी नि(cid:21)वासी है। मो० जकी (cid:21)े मौजा उमरपुर (cid:21)ीवां उपरहार में आराजी संख्या 410 रकबा 0.3490 में से 290 वग%मीटर जमी(cid:21) का ्ቅय कर खिलया और अप(cid:21)ा (cid:21)ाम सं्ቅमणीय भूनिमधर के रूप में खतौ(cid:21)ी में दज% करा खिलया है और अभी तक उसका प्लाट पूरा खाली पड़ा है जो निक उसी गांव के दबंग व शोरेपुश्त एवं भूमानि या हस(cid:21) एखलाक उ % रिरजवा(cid:21) अहमद (cid:21)े पुखिलस वालों से निमलकर के आराजी संख्या 410 के बीच प्लाट से रास्ता नि(cid:21)काल करके आखिखर मे लोहे का गेट लगा निदया है जो निक हस(cid:21) एखलाक उ % रिरजवा(cid:21) अहमद का कोई हक व निहस्सा अगल बगल की निकसी भी आराजी में (cid:21)ही है जिस % गुण्डई के दम पर आराजी संख्या 406 के लोगों से पैसा लेकर के उन्ही लोगों के खिलए रास्ता नि(cid:21)कलवाया और गेट लगवाया है । आराजी संख्या 406 के माखिलक अ(cid:21)ीस ात्मा व मोहसे(cid:21)ात अहमद (cid:21)े सभी लोगों को जमी(cid:21) का निव्ቅय निकया है तथा सभी लोग उ्ቈर निदशा या(cid:21)ी गांव की तर से लोग आते जाते थे और अब उस रास्ते को बन्द कर निदया गया तथा आराजीसंख्या 406 के ही लोग नि(cid:21)कल रहे है चू ंनिक कोई आम रास्ता (cid:21)ही है जो रास्ता नि(cid:21)कला है तथा लोहे का गेट लगा है यह लगभग 4-5 वቧኘb से ब(cid:21)ा व लगा है।" "बया(cid:21) सुशील चौधरी पु्ቔ ्ቚेमचन््ቖ चौधरी नि(cid:21)वासी ्ቇाम उमरपुर (cid:21)ीवां उपरहार ँ। मो० जकी पु्ቔ स्व० परग(cid:21)ा व तहसील सदर ज(cid:21)पद ्ቚयागराज का नि(cid:21)वासी हू मो० समी नि(cid:21)वासी उमरपुर (cid:21)ीवां उपरहार का स्थायी नि(cid:21)वासी है। मो० जकी (cid:21)े मौजा उमरपुर (cid:21)ीवां उपरहार में आराजी संख्या 410 रकबा 0.3490 में से 290 वग%मीटर जमी(cid:21) का ्ቅय कर खिलया और अप(cid:21)ा (cid:21)ाम सं्ቅमणीय भूनिमधर के रूप में खतौ(cid:21)ी में दज% करा खिलया है और अभी तक उसका प्लाट पूरा खाली पड़ा है जो निक उसी गांव के दबंग व शोरेपुश्त एवं भूमानि या हस(cid:21) एखलाक उ % रिरजवा(cid:21) अहमद (cid:21)े पुखिलस वालों से निमलकर के आराजी संख्या 410 के बीच प्लाट से रास्ता नि(cid:21)काल करके आखिखर में लोहे का गेट लगा निदया है जो निक हस(cid:21) एखलाक 4 उ % रिरजवा(cid:21) अहमद का कोई हक व निहस्सा अगल बगल की निकसी भी आराजी मे (cid:21)ही है जिस % गुण्डई के दम पर आराजी संख्या 406 के लोगों से पैसा लेकर के उन्ही लोगों के खिलए रास्ता नि(cid:21)कलवाया और गेट लगवाया है। आराजी संख्या 406 के माखिलक अ(cid:21)ीस ात्मा व मोहसे(cid:21)ात अहमद (cid:21)े सभी लोगों को जमी(cid:21) का निव्ቅय निकया है तथा सभी लोग उ्ቈर निदशा या(cid:21)ी गांव की तर के रास्ते से आते जाते थे और अब उस रास्ते को बन्द कर निदया गया है तथा आराजीसंख्या 406 के ही लोग नि(cid:21)कल रहे है चू ँनिक कोई आम रास्ता (cid:21)ही है जो रास्ता नि(cid:21)कला है तथा लोहे का गेट लगा है यह लगभग 4-5 वቧኘc से ब(cid:21)ा व लगा है।" 9. It appears that the Tehsildar Sadar has also submitted a report dated 19.11.2022 pursuant to the revenue team constituted by the Sub Divisional Magistrate by order dated 12.10.2022. In his brief report dated 22.11.2022, the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Prayagraj affirmed that the petitioner is the owner of residential plot measuring 290 sq. mtr. of Khasra plot no. 410 and his name is recorded in the revenue records and over the aforesaid plot of the petitioner, there is a cemented road and an iron gate. It has been further noted that the respondent no. 5 has apprised that the road and gate was constructed with the consent of the petitioner but now the petitioner is unnecessarily harassing him. Lastly, the Sub Divisional Magistrate submitted in his report that the petitioner may file a case before the competent court to get the relief. 10. Now, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition praying for the relief aforequoted. 11. In paragraph 3 of the counter affidavit, the respondent no.5 has stated that he is not concerned with the prayer of the petitioner in the writ petition and he has not encroached upon the land of the petitioner measuring 290 sq. mtrs. of arazi no. 410. Despite having stated in paragraph 3 that he has no concern with the land of the petitioner, the respondent no. 5 took stand in paragraph 6, 13, 14, 15, 17 and 19 of the counter affidavit that the present writ petition filed by the petitioner is not maintainable, it is an abuse of process of law and the petitioner has remedy to file a civil suit. 5 12. Learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel has produced before us a Government Order no. 402/1-2-2017-1(सामान्य)/ 2017 dated 01.05.2017 and submits that if the allegation of the petitioner against the respondent no.5 is true, then the competent authority after due enquiry may initiate action in accordance with law in terms of the aforesaid Government Order. 13. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the respondent no.5 is a bhumafia, who has encroached over the aforesaid residential plot of the petitioner by forcibly constructing a road and putting a gate thereto and when the petitioner opposed, then he is being threatened. He submits that forcibly constructing road over the residential plot of the petitioner is a criminal act and appropriate action needs to be directed to be taken against the respondent no.5 and the encroachment made over the land of the petitioner needs to be removed. 14. Learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel submits that there is no dispute that the residential plot measuring 290 sq. mtrs. in Khasra plot no. 410 is owned by the petitioner, therefore, the petitioner may avail appropriate remedy. 15. Sri Shakti Swaroop Nigam, learned Senior Advocate submits that the respondent no.5 has no concern with the residential plot in question which is owned by the petitioner. 16. We have carefully considered the submissions of learned counsel for the parties and perused the record of the writ petition. 17. From the facts, as duly noted above, it is undisputed that the residential plot in question measuring 290 sq. mtrs. in Khasra plot no. 410 is owned by the petitioner. There is nothing on record to show that the petitioner has ever given any consent to the respondent no.5 or to any other person to construct a road over his residential plot and put an iron gate. Statement of two local 6 residents as recorded by the Additional City Magistrate-II, Prayagraj in his enquiry report dated 22.09.2022 shows that two independent persons, namely, Satyendra Kumar and Sushil Chowdhary have stated that the respondent no.5 has forcibly got constructed a road over the residential plot of the petitioner by extracting money to provide the passage to the persons who constructed their houses over land of Khasra plot no. 406. 18. It is admitted case of the respondents including the respondent no.5 that the residential plot in question measuring 290 sq. mtrs. is owned by the petitioner. There is nothing on record to show that the petitioner ever gave his consent to any person including the respondent no.5 to construct a road over the aforesaid residential plot of the petitioner. Thus, the construction of road is totally illegal, without authority of law and a criminal act. Therefore, we direct the respondents no. 2 and 4 i.e. Commissioner, Prayagraj Division, Prayagraj and Sub- Divisional Magistrate, Tehsil Sadar, District Prayagraj, respectively, to remove the iron gate and the cemented road from the residential plot of the petitioner being part of Khasra plot no. 410 measuring 290 sq. mtrs. situate in Village Umarpur Neewa, Tehsil Sadar, District Prayagraj within 48 hours. 19. We also direct the respondent no. 2-Commissioner, Prayagraj Division, Prayagraj to initiate an enquiry into the matter of alleged land grabbing by the respondent no.5 in accordance with law and also in terms of the Government Order no. 402/1-2- 2017-1(सामान्य)/ 2017 dated 01.05.2017, without being influenced by any of the observations made in the body of this order and take appropriate action in accordance with law, if required. 20. The writ petition is allowed to the extent indicated above. 7 21. Learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel shall communicate this order in writing to the respondents no. 2 and 4 for compliance. Order Date :- 25.4.2023 Kirti 8 Digitally signed by :- KIRTI SAHU High Court of Judicature at Allahabad