Farmers Take Legal Stand Against Alleged Land Encroachment
A group of eight farmers from Dudhan Gujran village in Patiala district has initiated a significant legal battle. They have filed a civil suit in the court of the Civil Judge (Senior Division) in Patiala against officials from the Punjab Drainage Department. The core allegation is the illegal interference with their agricultural land during the widening of embankments along the Tangri River drainage. The farmers claim this was done without following due legal process or providing any fair compensation.
Details of the Alleged Encroachment and Threats
The plaintiffs, who own and cultivate approximately 13 acres and 15 marlas of joint agricultural land spread across several khasra numbers, presented a detailed account in their plaint. They stated that on December 10, officials from the Water Resources Department, including a sub-divisional officer and a Junior Engineer, arrived at their fields with heavy machinery like JCBs and earthmovers.
According to the suit, the officials began dismantling critical farm infrastructure, including irrigation channels, tube wells, and motor rooms. The farmers alleged they were threatened that the drainage would be widened and their access paths blocked, with the officials reportedly citing "high-level political backing" for their actions. The department's plan, as per the farmers, involved redirecting the Tangri River drainage flow directly through their fields, specifically affecting Khasra Nos. 761 and 752. This action, they argued, would destroy standing wheat crops and severely impact their livelihoods.
The situation escalated until villagers intervened, prompting the officials to leave. However, the plaintiffs alleged that before departing, the officials warned they would return to complete the work.
Administration's Response and Ongoing Tensions
Separately, tensions remain high on the ground. Farmers have accused the administration of attempting to take possession of land without prior compensation. Vakeel Singh, a resident of Dudhan Gujran, highlighted the administration's shifting stance. He revealed that officials first offered compensation only for the soil excavated. "Later, they said a proposal for compensation would be sent, but the land would be taken immediately as the project must be completed within three months," Singh stated.
He posed a critical question reflecting the farmers' resolve: "We will not give up even an inch of land without compensation. What is the purpose of the Land Acquisition Act if compensation is decided after the land is taken?"
Amid this opposition, the administration held a meeting on Tuesday with the panchayats of eight villages: Adalatiwala, Alipur Wajir Sahib, Dudhan Gujran, Aijan, Khatoli, Budhmor, Harigarh, and Mehmadpur Rurki. The agenda was to discuss land acquisition for widening embankments at specific points along the Tangri drainage. SDM Dudhan Sadhan Sukhpal Singh, who confirmed the meeting, stated that while widening work had been completed in some areas, embankments were still being expanded in others. "We have held meetings with village panchayats and assured them that a proposal for compensation is being sent to the government. The villagers are satisfied," the SDM claimed.
Legal Avenues and Relief Sought
In their legal filing, the farmers have sought urgent relief from the court. They invoked an exemption under Section 80(2) of the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) to bypass the usual notice period, indicating the immediacy of the threat. The plaintiffs submitted supporting documents, including revenue records, village maps, and site plans, to substantiate their ownership and the nature of the threat.
The primary request in the suit is for a permanent injunction to restrain the authorities from entering, altering, or interfering with their possession, cultivation, and irrigation systems. They demand that any such interference only occur after lawful land acquisition proceedings are initiated under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013. Attempts to reach Executive Engineer Pratham Gambhir for comments were unsuccessful.
