Sambhal (Uttar Pradesh) | In a major action against alleged land encroachment, the Uttar Pradesh administration has reclaimed nearly 38 bighas of Gram Sabha land in Sambhal, estimated to be worth around ₹101 crore, after a revenue court declared a decades-old lease invalid. Officials said the land had allegedly remained under private occupation for nearly 59 years through what authorities described as fraudulent documentation.
According to the district administration, the land is located in Takht Gusai on the Moradabad Road within the Sambhal municipal area. Following an order passed by the Deputy Director of Consolidation Court on June 27, 2026, the land has been restored to the Gram Sabha and directions have been issued to record it in government revenue records.
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The administration stated that the disputed property comprises Gata Nos. 206, 207, 233, 242/378 and 279. While a large portion of the land was lying vacant, some parts were reportedly being used for commercial purposes. Authorities said notices would be issued to occupants using the land commercially to vacate the premises.
The dispute dates back to 1967, when Saeedul Rahman allegedly claimed ownership based on a lease said to have been granted by the then chairman of the municipal board. However, the administration contended that the municipal chairman had no legal authority to issue such a lease without prior approval from the state government under the Municipalities Act, 1916. Officials further stated that no official record of the alleged lease was found, and the document was declared legally void.
The district administration initiated legal proceedings after receiving complaints regarding the alleged encroachment. A restoration appeal was filed before the Deputy Director of Consolidation Court on June 3, 2026. Following daily hearings, the court ruled in favour of restoring the land to the Gram Sabha.
Officials also pointed out that related litigation between the municipal council and Saeedul Rahman had been pending before the Allahabad High Court since 2008. According to the administration, a previous withdrawal of the case by a municipal executive officer in 2013 is also under scrutiny, and an application for restoration has now been filed before the High Court.
The administration further stated that earlier revenue court orders had already questioned the legality of the occupation. During consolidation proceedings, Saeedul Rahman had sought mutation of the land on the basis of the disputed 1967 lease, but municipal records reportedly indicated that no such lease had ever been officially issued.
Authorities said the court found that the earlier orders had allegedly been obtained through misrepresentation and fraudulent facts. The roles of certain former officials and other individuals associated with the matter have come under suspicion, and appropriate legal action will be initiated after further examination.
The district administration said the entire restoration process before the consolidation court was completed within 25 days. Officials added that the reclaimed land will now be entered into government records, while action will continue against illegal occupants and those found responsible for the alleged irregularities.
The operation is part of an ongoing drive by the Uttar Pradesh administration to remove encroachments from government land. Officials said several hundred bighas of public land have already been reclaimed in the district, and the campaign against illegal occupation of government property will continue.
