Himachal govt to move SC for 1.24 lakh families facing eviction: CM

The Himachal Pradesh government will fight in the Supreme Court on behalf of 1,24,870 families, identified as illegal encroachers, so that they are not rendered homeless.

This was stated by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in the State Assembly during the winter session at Dharamshala on Wednesday, while intervening during Question Hour, in response to a query raised by MLA Jeet Ram Katwal.

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The Chief Minister said the government will engage reputed lawyers in the Supreme Court to secure relief from the High Court judgment delivered against these families.

Earlier, replying to the main question, Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said that the previous BJP government had introduced a policy in 2002–03 under which illegal occupations were proposed to be regularised. Under this policy, more than 1.60 lakh people submitted applications overnight, and all these cases of illegal occupation surfaced.

He said that in Himachal Pradesh, most non-revenue land is forest land, and until the Central Government amends the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), the state cannot allot even a single biswa of land to anyone.

The Revenue Minister said the previous BJP government remained inactive on this issue, which has now resulted in more than one lakh people facing the threat of eviction. He said that Section 163-A, incorporated by the former government, has been struck down by the High Court, making the previous government responsible for the current crisis.

Earlier, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, in a supplementary question, said that the intention behind the policy brought by the former BJP government was to provide land rights to those who had been living on government land for decades.

He alleged that the current government did not present the case properly before the court, resulting in a situation where more than 1.24 lakh families face eviction.

He questioned whether the government would make efforts to save the homes of these poor families.

Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, replying to another question raised by MLA Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, said the state cabinet has approved the recruitment of 645 patwaris and the recommendation has been sent to the State Selection Commission. He said there is a severe shortage of patwaris in the state at present, and to address this shortage, the government is taking the services of retired patwaris.

He said the government has fixed time limits for officials and employees for revenue-related work, and there is a provision to file complaints and take action against those who fail to meet these timelines.

He alleged that the previous BJP government did not recruit patwaris, leading to the current shortage.