By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun/New Delhi, 14 Dec: The Supreme Court has once again postponed its verdict on the Banbhulpura land encroachment case, scheduling the final hearing for 3 February 2026, now. The postponement has once again led to continued suspension in the case not only for the alleged encroachers but also for the Nainital district administration.
It may be recalled that the court had earlier set dates for 2 December and 10 December, but deferred the pronouncement on both occasions for certain reasons, leading to widespread confusion among the local population and officials. The latest adjournment, after a tentative date of 16 December was announced, has offered some relief even as uncertainty lingers over the fate of thousands of families.
The case centres on allegations that over 3,660 houses built on approximately 30 hectares of land in Banbhulpura actually encroach upon railway property, affecting more than 5,000 families.
The Railways staked its claim, prompting a Public Interest Litigation in the Nainital High Court in 2022. The Court heard the matter in 2023 and ordered the removal of the encroachments, with the local administration gearing up to execute the directive.
At the last moment, residents had approached the Supreme Court for relief, which stayed the High Court’s order and the case is pending with the apex court for consideration since 2023. As per the local lawyers, they were expecting a final judgement in the case by the Supreme Court on 2 December, and this had prompted the administration to complete all preparations and ensure heavy deployment of the forces as well as flag marches. However, the court shifted the date to 10 December, only to postpone it again for unspecified reasons.
Following the latest deferment to 3 February, both residents and officials find themselves in prolonged suspense. Police forces brought in from other districts have been withdrawn and redirected, while local deployments continue through alternative surveillance methods. SSP Manjunath TC confirmed the new hearing date, noting that external personnel have since returned to their jurisdictions and district resources are being reallocated accordingly. Despite the pullback, the police maintain vigilant oversight of the sensitive area to prevent any escalation.
