Haryana stakes claim to 1,394 acres in major Panchkula land dispute

Chandigarh: In a significant order in one of Haryana's largest surplus land disputes, the Ambala divisional commissioner has held that 1,394 acres in Panchkula district vest with the state government and set aside private ownership mutations over more than 810 acres.The land, spread across seven villages in the Panchkula-Barwala-Yamunanagar belt, is considered strategically important because of rapid urban and industrial development in the area.While strengthening the government's claim, the commissioner has remanded the matter to the collector (agrarian), Panchkula, for fresh adjudication. All stakeholders have been directed to be given an opportunity to present their claims before a fresh order is passed.The collector has been asked to complete the exercise within two months.Officials said the administration would maintain status quo on the disputed land until the legal position becomes clearer. "The government has its own planning. Let the title become clear first. We have a long way to go," an official said.The dispute, involving land valued at hundreds of crores of rupees, has been under litigation for years and is regarded as one of the most significant land cases in Haryana. While the latest order bolsters the state's position, private claimants are expected to pursue further legal remedies. MSID:: 131613539 413 |