PALAMPUR: In a shocking turn of events, more than 20 families living at Mohal Banuri Khas in Palampur sub-division of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh for over 80 years have been displaced overnight following what appears to be an alleged land scam involving the manipulation of revenue records.
These families have allegedly lost ownership of over 100 kanals of prime land, located just 5 km from Palampur, without proper notice or legal due process.
According to reports, the land was transferred to other individuals through unauthorised modifications in official records, allegedly with the collusion of certain revenue officials. The land mutations were executed within just four days and the property was subsequently sold, raising serious concerns about forgery, misuse of power and manipulation of official documents.
Speaking to the media, the affected families alleged that the orders issued by first and second-class Assistant Collectors were illegal, inhumane and fraught with serious procedural and jurisdictional violations.
They claimed that the Second-Class Assistant Collector initially transferred the case to a First-Class judicial officer without any formal order or legal justification. The case was later reassigned back to the same Second-Class officer, adding to the procedural confusion.
A man representing the displaced families pointed out that the First-Class Assistant Collector claimed to be acting under Section 104(4) of the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, but failed to initiate any formal proceedings as required by law.
“No notices were issued, no inquiry was conducted, and no issues were framed. As a result, families were illegally dispossessed of their ancestral land,” he said.
He further highlighted that no personal summons were served, nor were they sent through the established village communication channels. Instead, the notices were merely pasted on the Municipal Office building in Palampur, far from the affected revenue village, denying families a fair chance to respond.
The land mutation was reportedly carried out without informing the parties concerned. No report was submitted by the field kanungo and the Second-Class Assistant Collector personally prepared the site inspection report, a clear violation of standard protocol as outlined in the Land Record Manual, said the man.
Adding to the concerns, the Naib Tehsildar allegedly approved mutation prematurely, well before the mandatory 30-day appeal period had lapsed, raising suspicions of bias and premeditated action.
Speaking to a media house, Palampur Tehsildar Sajan Bagga confirmed that the matter had come to his attention and assured that appropriate action is underway. Local MLA Ashish Butail, who met the aggrieved families, described the situation as deeply serious. He said he had asked the SDM to conduct a thorough investigation. “I will also raise this issue directly with the Chief Minister,” he said.
TNR
