Lucknow
An audit of land dispute cases has revealed that more than 6,500 such cases are pending in various courts in Lucknow. Additionally, around 26,866 cases are awaiting resolution in revenue courts across Uttar Pradesh. This scrutiny of pending cases was initiated following a violent incident in Deoria, where six individuals lost their lives due to a property dispute. Official sources have noted that many litigants have been engaged in land disputes for over two decades without a final judgment. Some cases are so old that the original plaintiffs have passed away, and their descendants continue the legal battle. Land dispute cases typically follow a lengthy process, progressing through various levels of the judiciary, from tehsildar courts to the Revenue Board, high courts, and even the Supreme Court. This prolonged legal journey often results in significant delays in reaching resolutions. Mukesh Singh, a Congress corporator, acknowledged the challenge of resolving land disputes, emphasizing that no single entity can be blamed for the backlog. Advocate Ravish Singh added that the complexity of land-related matters and the lack of seriousness among revenue officials in settling such cases contribute to the persistence of these disputes, which occasionally escalate into violent incidents. To address this issue, Divisional Commissioner Roshan Jacob has instructed officials to prioritize resolving land-related cases. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of water body conservation and the prevention of encroachments on government land. The divisional commissioner’s directive aligns with the state chief minister’s instructions to address land disputes promptly. Municipal Commissioner Inderjeet Singh reported that the Lucknow Municipal Corporation had surveyed and taken control of 361 ponds in its jurisdiction. Efforts were underway to renovate these ponds as part of water body conservation initiatives.
