Govt takes Cabinet route to regularise land ‘encroached ’ by high-profile sadhu

SHIMLA: The state government is showing strict compliance in enforcing High Court orders of removing all forest encroachments but when it comes to illegal occupation by a “controversial sadhu”, desperate efforts are being made to regularise it by taking the case to the Cabinet, it is learnt.

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 23

The state government is showing strict compliance in enforcing High Court orders of removing all forest encroachments but when it comes to illegal occupation by a “controversial sadhu”, desperate efforts are being made to regularise it by taking the case to the Cabinet, it is learnt.

Sources said the case of regularisation of the encroachment by the sadhu for making a temple in Tundal panchayat in Kandaghat, Solan district, will be placed before the Cabinet when it meets on July 25. There is pressure on officials to prepare a positive case and oblige the sadhu who has a high-profile following comprising a long list of ministers, MLAs and bureaucrats.

A temple has been constructed by encroaching on 1.5 bighas which had been given by the state government to the local panchayat for constructing a community hall. Once the illegality had been detected, proceedings for eviction had been initiated and a notice was served on the sadhu by the Solan district administration. The proceedings now have been put on hold and it is being feared that the 60 bighas around the temple will also be encroached if the Cabinet gives the nod on Monday to the proposal.

A case has been prepared to oblige the sadhu with a request from an individual that his land may be taken in lieu for the land used for temple construction though there is no such provision in rules.

Considering the high-profile disciples that the sadhu has, a case has been prepared for seeking the Cabinet consent to give another chunk of land to the Panchayati Raj Department for the construction of the community hall. All this comes at a time when the state government has reiterated its commitment to remove all encroachments on forest land in the state.It may be noted that lease rules do not allow regularisation of the encroachment and providing alternative land to panchayat.

Surprisingly, the government is yet to come out with a policy to provide relief to small and marginal farmers whose encroachments are up to five bighas.