In a stern move, the Nainital High Court has called for a government response regarding the alleged sale of valuable government land in Ramnagar’s Bhawaniganj area. This follows a public interest litigation (PIL) filed concerning the matter, which was heard by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Ritu Bahri and Justice Rakesh Thapliyal.
The issue came to light after Ajay Kumar Agrawal, a resident of Bambagher in Ramnagar, addressed a letter to the Chief Justice, prompting the bench to take suo moto cognizance and initiate a hearing as a PIL. According to the petitioner, collusion between municipal authorities and government officers led to the illicit sale of 4.15 bigha of prized nazul (government) land to Sangeeta Agrawal, wife of Rajiv Kumar Agrawal, for INR 1.35 crore.
Historically, the lease on this land had expired in 1960 when it was held under the name of Anand Priya. In a questionable move in 2014, the municipality registered the land in the names of Chandrashekhar, Devendra, and Ratish Paladia. The land was subsequently sold to Mrs. Agrawal in 2015.
The PIL further highlighted that in 2009, the Urban Development Department and the District Magistrate of Nainital had explicitly directed that the land should not be transferred. Despite these orders, the municipality first changed the land’s registration, and then the registrar’s office proceeded with the sale, flouting norms.
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Moreover, in 2016, the Ramnagar municipality even altered the land records (dakhil kharij) in favor of Sangeeta Agrawal. The petitioner asserted that a probe by the Tehsildar of Ramnagar confirmed irregularities, yet no action has been taken against those responsible. Advocate Puran Singh Rawat has been appointed as amicus curiae in the case to assist the court.
