Land records can be verified : HC
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 27 2022: A single bench of the High Court of Manipur has ruled that the State Government is at liberty to verify all land records in dispute at the time of eviction in accordance with law.

The direction was given by Justice Ahanthem Bimol in connection with a writ petition filed by Asem Brajamani and 13 others as petitioners against the State Government and six others before the High Court of Manipur.

The writ petition mentioned that the respondents are trying to forcefully evict the petitioners from their land at Waithou which they have been occupying for more than 31 years.

The petitioners also claimed that the Thoubal DC and other officials directed them to dismantle their buildings under the influence of some vested interest.

It is also alleged in the petition that the authorities concerned have not made any inquiry nor offered the opportunity to be heard.

The acts of the authorities are illegal, unsustainable and as such require the intervention of the High Court to save the property, the petitioners said.

The Court heard Th Ibohal, senior counsel appearing for the petitioners and Lenin Hijam, Advocate General appearing for the respondents.

The petitioner counsel submitted that that there is an apprehension among the petitioners that they will be evicted from their land without following the due process of law and prayed that the writ petition may be disposed of by issuing an innocuous direction to the State Government.

On the other hand, Lenin Hijam, Advocate General of High Court of Manipur submitted that the petitioners are all encroachers and if the Government is going to evict them, it will be done following due process of law as provided under the relevant Acts and Rules.

In view of the submission made from both sides, the writ petition has been disposed of by directing the respondents to follow due process of law in case any step has to be taken up to evict the petitioners.

Comment