UK HC Seeks State Response on Landholding Rights PIL for Jawahar Jyoti Damuvadunga Residents

The Uttarakhand High Court sought a response from the state government within four weeks on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking landholding rights for the residents of Jawahar Jyoti Damuvadunga area near Haldwani.

Additionally, the court has directed the Municipal Corporation of Haldwani to be included as a party to the PIL.

A division bench of Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Rakesh Thapliyal presided over the hearing of the plea. The PIL was filed by Deepak Balutia, a resident of Haldwani, who emphasized that Jawahar Jyoti Damuvadunga encompasses an area of over 650 acres and is home to more than 7,000 families.

Initially categorized as reserved forest land, this area was reclassified as unreserved land in December 2015. Subsequently, in December 2016, the governor granted approval to establish it as a distinct revenue village, as stated in the PIL. Following this development, a survey of Jawahar Jyoti Damuvadunga was initiated.

However, the PIL contends that the state government, without valid justification, halted the process through a notification issued in May 2020. Consequently, the PIL seeks the removal of the ban on the settlement process and the granting of landholding rights to the local residents.