A land dispute over five bighas of land worth around ₹50 crore in Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh has now moved towards administrative action. The SDM court has ordered that around 3,350 square metres of land in the Sher Khan Sarai area be registered again in the name of the Arya Samaj temple and Gram Samaj. Following the order, 11 names recorded in the revenue records have been cancelled.
An administrative survey of the land found 10 permanent houses and a mazar on the disputed property. The administration has now warned those occupying the land to vacate it. Officials have also said that bulldozer action may follow if the occupants fail to comply with the order.
How the land dispute reached the SDM court
The matter concerns land in the Sher Khan Sarai area, where the Arya Samaj temple had filed a complaint with the district administration around a year ago. The temple claimed that during the consolidation process in 1960, Gata numbers 103, 106 and 107 had officially been recorded in the name of the Arya Samaj temple.
The complaint said that the land was later transferred into the names of private individuals through fraud and collusion. The case subsequently reached the court of Sambhal SDM Vikas Chandra. Both sides were given an opportunity to present their documents and evidence during hearings that continued for nearly a year.
Survey finds houses and a mazar on the land
During the proceedings, the SDM court asked the tehsildar to conduct an on-ground inspection and submit a report. According to the report, the 3,350-square-metre plot was identified as land belonging to the Arya Samaj temple. The inspection also found permanent houses and a mazar constructed on the property.
Based on the report, SDM Vikas Chandra ordered that the land be recorded again in the name of the Arya Samaj temple and the Gram Samaj.
The names of Akila Begum, Ahmed Hasan, Ghulam Waris, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Alam, Mohammad Hasan, Mahir Hussain, Takirullah, Nurullah, Shabbiran and Sultan were cancelled from the revenue records with immediate effect.
What did the tehsildar say?
Tehsildar Dhirendra Pratap Singh said the disputed plots were originally recorded as Arya Samaj temple land, with its management entrusted to the Gram Samaj head.
“Gata numbers 103, 106 and 107 were recorded in the revenue records as land belonging to the Arya Samaj temple, whose management was handed over to the Gram Samaj head. But earlier, the Gram Samaj head and some local people illegally occupied the entire land, carried out plotting and sold it. A mazar and more than 10 houses had been constructed on this land,” he said.
He added that the SDM court had ordered the land to be recorded again in the name of the Arya Samaj temple based on the investigation report.
Administration warns of eviction and bulldozer action
The administration has now started preparing for the next stage of legal action. Tehsildar Dhirendra Pratap Singh appealed to the occupants to vacate the land themselves.
“Our appeal is that people should vacate the land on their own, otherwise eviction and bulldozer action will be taken as per the rules,” he said.
After the order, a revenue department team, accompanied by a heavy police presence, reached the site and carried out measurements. Officials are now preparing the inspection report and further legal proceedings.
Muslim side disputes administration’s claim
Meanwhile, the Muslim side has disputed the administration’s claims about the mazar. Local cleric Maulana Musharraf Hussain alleged the mazar was around 100 to 150 years old.
“This mazar is around 100 to 150 years old and is said to date back to the time of Mughal emperor Akbar. Arrangements have been made here for the annual Urs. Although the administration is calling it Arya Samaj land, our elders say that this was purchased land on which the dargah was built,” he alleged.
Further proceedings are likely to be initiated under Section 67 in the Tehsildar’s court for illegal occupation of the land. Notices may be issued to the occupants, following which action could be taken to remove the encroachments, including the mazar, if they fail to vacate the property within the prescribed period.
