The Allahabad High Court has directed the District Magistrate of Lucknow to appear before it on Tuesday to explain alleged attempts to use land belonging to La Martiniere College for a road and flyover project without following the required legal procedure. The order came after the court was informed that its earlier direction to measure the disputed land had not yet been complied with.
A division bench of the Lucknow bench comprising Justice Alok Mathur and Justice Amitabh Kumar Rai issued the direction while hearing a petition filed by La Martiniere College. The institution has approached the court alleging that authorities were attempting to use its land for construction work linked to the Green Corridor Project.
The college claims ownership of land located at Kothi Martin Sahib in the Ganeshganj Station area of Lucknow. According to the petition, the government has proposed building a road and flyover in the area, and construction activity was allegedly being carried out on land belonging to the institution without its consent.
The petitioner told the court that neither the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA), nor the district administration, nor the state government had obtained permission from the college before initiating the work.
During an earlier hearing on February 27, the High Court had directed the Sadar Sub-Divisional Magistrate to conduct a measurement of the disputed land and submit a report. However, when the matter was taken up again, the state counsel informed the bench that the measurement process had not yet begun.
The college also placed before the court a letter dated February 27 written by the vice chairman of the LDA to the chief secretary, who also serves as the ex-officio senior trustee of the Lucknow Martiniere Charities. The letter sought consent to erect nine pillars on the institution’s land for the proposed project.
Taking note of the failure to carry out its earlier order, the court directed the Lucknow District Magistrate to appear personally and explain the delay. The bench also indicated that it may consider initiating contempt proceedings after hearing the official.
La Martiniere College, founded in 1845 under the will of French adventurer and philanthropist Claude Martin, is one of the country’s oldest and most reputed educational institutions. Operated by the Lucknow Martiniere Charities, the school has a long history and has produced many notable alumni.
