Haldwani is under heavy security ahead of the Supreme Court’s verdict on the major railway land encroachment case involving over 4,300 families. Authorities have deployed massive forces as residents fear large-scale eviction without a relocation plan.
Ahead of the Supreme Court’s much-awaited verdict on the Haldwani land encroachment case, which could impact over 4,300 families, the entire city has been placed on high alert.
Security has been tightened across the area, with hundreds of police officers deployed and streets cordoned off to avoid any disturbance. According to officials, 23 people have already been taken into preventive detention and 123 individuals have been “bound down” to maintain peace.
The case deals with alleged encroachment on land claimed by the Indian Railways, where three densely populated localities — Gafoor Basti, Dholak Basti and Indira Nagar — have existed for decades with more than 4,000 families.
The matter first came before the Uttarakhand High Court during a PIL related to illegal sand mining in the Gaula River, which is located next to the Haldwani railway station.
In December 2022, the High Court ordered the Railways to provide residents one week to leave the area and, after that,
“to use the forces to any extent, determining upon need, to evict the unauthorised occupants”.
The order triggered panic among residents and led to one of the largest protests witnessed in the region. When the residents appealed, the Supreme Court temporarily halted the eviction, saying that around 50,000 people could not be displaced in a single night.
Based on earlier government records, a joint survey conducted in 2016-17 by the Railways and the district administration had identified 4,365 “encroachments” in the disputed zone.
With the Supreme Court expected to give its final decision, the administration has arranged heavy security. On Tuesday, more than 400 police officers, along with personnel from the PAC, were deployed in key areas.
SSP Nainital, Manjunath T C, explained the extensive preparations and said,
“The Supreme Court will rule on the railway land encroachment matter, and we are prepared for the verdict. The entire Banbhoolpura has been cordoned off and divided into four zones. We have deployed three SPs, four COs, eight inspectors, eight SHOs, 400 officers, two companies of PAC, firing and teargas squads, anti-riot force, fire units, and traffic personnel. We have also readied paramilitary forces, such as ITBP and CRPF. The police will crack down on any movement caused by the verdict.”
The Nainital Police have warned that they will take the “strictest action” against anyone attempting to create disorder or damage government property.
Officers have been instructed to conduct strict checking at district borders, ensure heavy deployment in sensitive spots, and closely watch “suspicious” individuals. Social media activity is also being monitored to prevent rumours or misinformation.
Residents of the affected localities say they have been living there for generations, but the Railways claim that official documents prove their ownership of the land. They point to a 1959 notification, revenue records from 1971, and the findings of the 2017 survey as proof.
The disputed stretch covers about 2.2 km and includes important public structures like government schools, private schools, 10 mosques, 12 madrassas, a government health centre and a temple.
This highlights that the issue goes far beyond individual homes and affects the entire social infrastructure of the neighbourhood.
Sumit Hridayesh, Congress MLA from Haldwani, who earlier joined protests against the High Court’s eviction order, said that residents are extremely worried about what the Supreme Court will decide. He said,
“In July 2024, the SC asked the state to produce a relocation plan, but no such plan has been submitted. They have not followed the order. We are hopeful that the SC will decide in our favour. The residents are on nazool land and have not encroached on the Railways’ property.”
His statement reflects the growing anxiety among families who fear losing their homes without any rehabilitation plan in place.
With the verdict expected to decide the future of thousands, both the administration and the people of Haldwani remain tense and alert.
The Supreme Court’s ruling is likely to shape not only the fate of the residents but also how similar land disputes involving government departments are handled across the country.
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