Land Justice: High Court Upholds Citizen's Property Rights

The Allahabad High Court issued a stern warning to state authorities regarding the unauthorized use of private land, emphasizing the necessity of following legal procedures for acquisition. The case of Kanyawati from Bareilly highlighted gaps in compensation processes after her plot was used for road widening without proper documentation.

The Allahabad High Court has sounded an alarm over the unauthorized use of private land by state authorities, stressing the need for strict adherence to legal acquisition procedures. The court's decision arises from a case involving Kanyawati, a resident from Bareilly, whose land was utilized for road expansion without due process.

A division bench, presided over by Justices Manoj Kumar Gupta and Anish Kumar Gupta, underscored that any negligence in property acquisition would lead to severe penalties for responsible officials. Kanyawati had alleged that an extended portion of her land was absorbed into a public road without formal acquisition or compensation.

Despite numerous attempts to reclaim her compensation, Kanyawati received no redress until the court's intervention. The bench upheld her right to compensation under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, ordering the payout within four weeks, inclusive of interest.