AAP demands probe into encroachment on forest land

‘Implement Justice Kuldeep Singh interim report on the matter’

Alleging that in recent years several cases of encroachment on forest and panchyat land under the Punjab government in areas surrounding Chandigarh have come to the fore, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has demanded implementation of the Punjab and Haryana High Court-monitored Justice Kuldeep Singh interim report on the matter.

Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Kharar MLA Kanwar Sandhu have alleged that in recent years multiple cases have been witnessed where powerful political people, bureaucrats and others have encroached on land, violating section 42(A) and The Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900.

‘Without consent’

Mr. Khaira and Mr. Sandhu pointed out that a case had emerged recently where the Kharar Sub-Divisional Magistrate had quashed an illegal girdawari of 458 kanals and two marla land in Seonk village that was transferred without the consent of the land owner.

“There have been hundreds of similar cases in the area during the previous SAD-BJP regime, and illegal and forced encroachment is still going on. The Vidhan Sabha in 2007 had passed an order prohibiting the registration of land in the forest area, but even after that cases were witnessed where illegal registration was done by the officers in connivance with political leaders,” they alleged.

Mr. Sandhu said a committee was formed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2012 under Justice Kuldeep Singh on the issue. He submitted his interim report in 2013. “Till now nothing has been done on the reports submitted by Justice Kuldeep Singh and no action was initiated against those violated the law,” he said. He demanded a judicial inquiry in the case.

“All the registries and transfers that happened after 2013 must also probed. I urge the Punjab and Haryana High Court to take suo moto cognizance in the matter,” he added.