HP HC Slams Land Encroachment Amnesty: Deadline Looms
The Himachal Pradesh High Court delivered a significant blow to land encroachment regularization on August 5, 2025, declaring Section 163-A of the HP Land Revenue Act unconstitutional. The Court deemed the section, which aimed to regularize encroachments, as violating fundamental rights.
The ruling stems from a public interest litigation challenging the state government’s move to legitimize illegal land occupation. The court found the provision to be against the principles of natural justice.
The High Court has issued a firm directive for the complete removal of all encroachments by February 2026. The state government has been ordered to strictly enforce existing criminal trespass laws.
This landmark judgment has far-reaching implications for Himachal Pradesh. It sends a strong message against land grabbing and underscores the need for stricter enforcement of land laws to protect public resources and prevent future encroachments. The state government now faces the challenge of implementing the court’s order effectively, a task that requires careful planning and decisive action.
