Gurgaon: Punjab and Haryana high court has ordered a vigilance probe into a land dispute in Shikohpur village, citing concerns over a pattern of compensation claims against govt agencies based on allegedly favourable reports prepared by revenue officials. The court warned that officials could face criminal proceedings if the investigation finds that incorrect reports were prepared on possession of the disputed land.Justice Jagmohan Bansal noted that the issue went beyond the individual dispute, with similar petitions being filed against govt agencies, including Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).“Favourable reports by revenue officials, particularly when the beneficiary was one of these agencies, could saddle them with financial liabilities even decades after acquisition proceedings,” the court said.The order came in a case filed by Lala Ram and others, who alleged that HSVP was using their land in Shikohpur without acquiring it and sought compensation. HSVP denied the claim, maintaining that the land was not in its possession and that there was, therefore, no question of paying compensation.A fresh demarcation ordered by the court was conducted on Sept 3 using a differential GPS machine, in the presence of the petitioners, HSVP officials and revenue officials. It found encroachments by both sides.According to the report, the petitioners had encroached upon HSVP land measuring 126.84 square yards in khasra no. 753/1/1, 321.60 square yards in khasra no. 752/1/1 and 4.61 square yards in khasra no. 745/2/2. HSVP, in turn, had encroached upon the petitioners’ land measuring 47.82 square yards in khasra no. 753/1/2 and 17.47 square yards in khasra no. 745/2/2. No encroachment was found in khasra nos. 745/1 and 746/2/1, which are part of the dispute and recorded in NHAI’s name.At the Oct 28 hearing, the petitioners disputed the findings, reiterating that they owned the land and that HSVP was using it without acquisition.The court said the disputed facts needed independent examination and referred the matter to Haryana State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau chief Dr AS Chawla to ascertain the actual position. He has been directed to submit a report before the next hearing on Dec 21.The court also directed that if the probe establishes that HSVP did not possess the land and that contrary reports were prepared by officials, appropriate action, including criminal proceedings, should be initiated against the jurisdictional tehsildar, patwari and deputy commissioner.
