By ARUN PRATAP SINGH
Garhwal Post Bureau
New Delhi/Haldwani, 9 Sep: The Supreme Court today deferred the hearing on the Banbhoolpura railway land encroachment case, prolonging uncertainty over the fate of thousands of families settled on the disputed land. In anticipation of the judgement in the case, the Nainital District Administration and the Police had deployed heavy security arrangements in Haldwani. The matter, involving nearly 30 hectares of railway property in Haldwani’s Banbhoolpura area, has been pending for final adjudication for several dates, with the apex court earlier seeking a rehabilitation plan from the state government and the Railways. The matter is now expected to be listed for hearing on 17 September.
Meanwhile speaking at the BJP’s State Executive Meet in Haldwani today, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also commented on the matter. Dhami again blamed opposition parties including the Samajwadi Party and Congress for the situation. The matter is now expected to be listed again on 17 September, leaving residents and authorities awaiting the Supreme Court’s final word.
It may be recalled that the Dhami government had moved an urgency application, but the hearing was postponed yet again. The bench chaired by Chief Justice Surya Kant and also comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana assured that the matter would be taken up soon. The Bench also observed that the submissions from both the Railways and the petitioners have been pressing for early disposal. The Railways argued that the encroachment has led to damage, with water from the Gaula River reaching the railway tracks, while petitioners sought immediate clarity on the future of residents.
The alleged encroachment concerns over 3,500 houses built on railway land, affecting nearly 27,000 to 50,000 people, depending on estimates.
It may be recalled that the Uttarakhand High Court had earlier ordered removal of encroachments, prompting the affected families to approach the Supreme Court. In compliance with the apex court’s directions, surveys have been conducted to identify beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, with the administration preparing to extend benefits to more than 4,300 families. Camps are planned jointly by the district administration and the District Legal Services Authority to facilitate rehabilitation.
Security arrangements in Haldwani were tightened in anticipation of the verdict. SSP, Nainital, Dr Manjunath TC personally supervised deployment, with over 300 police personnel and two companies of PAC stationed in the area. The locality was divided into super zones to maintain peace, and strict warnings were issued against stockpiling stones or debris on rooftops. SP Crime Dr Jagdish Chandra coordinated drone surveillance and monitoring of social media activity. The police emphasised that their priority was to prevent any repeat of violence witnessed two years ago during a small-scale eviction.
