The city of Haldwani in Uttarakhand is under a thick security blanket, with authorities on high alert as the Supreme Court is set to pronounce a crucial order regarding a contentious piece of land claimed by the Indian Railways. The verdict, expected imminently, holds the potential to directly impact the lives and homes of approximately 50,000 residents from more than 4,300 families residing in three localities.
Massive Security Deployment in Anticipation of Verdict
In a massive pre-emptive move, the Nainital police have cordoned off the entire Banbhulpura area, dividing it into four zones. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nainital, Manjunath T C, detailed the extensive arrangements made on Tuesday. The force includes over 400 police officers, three Superintendents of Police (SPs), four Circle Officers (COs), and eight inspectors. Support comes from two companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), along with specialized anti-riot, firing, and teargas squads. Fire units and traffic personnel are also stationed. Paramilitary forces like the ITBP and CRPF are on standby, ready to be mobilized if tensions escalate.
The police have already taken 23 individuals into preventive detention and have "bound down" 123 others as a precaution. Intensive checking is underway at district borders, with special surveillance on suspicious persons and close monitoring of social media platforms. A stern warning has been issued against any damage to government property.
The Heart of the Dispute: Generations vs. Railway Records
The legal battle centers on a 2.2 km strip of land near the Haldwani railway station, where the localities of Gafoor Basti, Dholak Basti, and Indira Nagar are situated. Residents assert they have lived there for generations, with the area now housing vital community infrastructure including three government schools, 11 private schools, 10 mosques, 12 madrassas, a public health centre, and a temple.
However, the Indian Railways maintains that the land belongs to them, citing a notification from 1959, revenue records from 1971, and a joint survey conducted with the district administration in 2016-17. This survey identified 4,365 "encroachments" on the marked railway property.
From High Court Eviction Order to Supreme Court Stay
The matter reached the courts via a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning illegal sand mining in the Gaula River. In December 2022, the Uttarakhand High Court directed the Railways to give residents a week to vacate, authorizing the use of force thereafter for eviction. This order triggered widespread panic and one of the area's largest protests.
Following an appeal, the Supreme Court stayed the High Court's eviction order, famously questioning how 50,000 people could be evicted overnight. In July 2024, the apex court further asked the state government to produce a relocation plan for the affected families. Local Congress MLA from Haldwani, who participated in demonstrations earlier, claimed no such plan has been submitted to the Court. He expressed hope for a favourable verdict, stating residents are on "nazool land" and have not encroached on railway property.
As the nation's highest court prepares to deliver its final judgment, the air in Haldwani is thick with anxiety. The verdict will not only decide the legal ownership of a piece of land but also determine the immediate future of tens of thousands of people, making it one of the most significant land rights cases in recent Uttarakhand history.
