States » NorthPosted at: Oct 12 2026 2:57AM


Himachal: Dispute over occupation of govt land in Kafota heats up

Nahan, Oct 11 (UNI) The alleged illegal occupation of government land in Kafota, a major centre of the Shillai Assembly constituency in Sirmaur district, is now raising serious questions about the functioning of the Revenue Department.
The dispute, which has been ongoing for nearly three decades, has remained unresolved despite numerous demarcations, revenue reports, fines, and court orders from 1994 to September 2026.
Now, following allegations of tampering with previously marked markings during the latest demarcation conducted on September 21, 2026, villagers have demanded an independent and high-level investigation into the matter. Villagers Jagdish Kumar, Dhaniram, Sachin, Gulab Singh, Jagmohan Singh, Suresh Kumar, Nitish, Rangilal, Kamlesh, Ratiram, Sandeep Chauhan, Kapil Pundir, Dinesh Kumar, and Munshiram have submitted a complaint to SDM Kafota, demanding an investigation into the entire matter.
The complainants alleged that an impartial investigation of the revenue records related to government land, Shamlat land, and settlement roads, as well as the on-site markings, is necessary to uncover the true situation and hold those responsible accountable. According to the villagers, the first marking in this case was done on June 14, 1994, by the then Kanungo.
During that time, a 9-biswa land demarcation was prepared on-site. The complaint states that the then Tehsildar, Devendra Singh, also marked the relevant location and stamped the document. Subsequently, on December 29, 2022, the then-Kanungo, Rinku, re-marked the land parcels of the respective landholders and prepared a spot survey.
Despite this, the dispute remained unresolved, and the matter continued to be brought before revenue officials. The dispute remained unresolved even after the High Court's orders. On November 30, 2024, the then-Kanungo, Suresh Kumar, conducted the demarcation in accordance with the High Court's orders.
According to the details provided in the complaint, during this period, the Shamlat land in Khasra No. 626 and the settlement road in Khasra No. 627 were also marked, along with the identification of the landowners' shares. The villagers allege that the encroachment on the land and road has been a matter of dispute for a long time.
The complaint also mentions that in 2024, instructions were given to take possession of the illegally constructed house and register an FIR at the Shillai police station. However, the current implementation and status of these actions are yet to be independently confirmed.
Claims of fines of ₹20,000 each in cases of illegal occupation According to villagers, the then Tehsildar, Nisha Azad, issued a judgment on May 5, 2025, imposing fines of ₹20,000 each on the illegal occupants. Subsequently, the SDM Kafota office issued a letter on December 5, 2025, requesting re-demarcation.
The concerned Kanungo submitted his report on March 19, 2026, after demarcation. Citing available details in the complaint, it is claimed that the report mentions alleged encroachment on Khasra number 3664/627. Furthermore, Khasra number 4039/3662/626, belonging to the Himachal Pradesh government, also claims to have been illegally occupied.
Only an investigation of these revenue records and reports will reveal the true status of the land and the extent of the alleged occupation. Questions raised about the September 21 demarcation, demands for an investigation into the role of officials. The latest twist in this controversy has emerged regarding the demarcation conducted on September 21, 2026.
Villagers have alleged that previously marked marks were tampered with during this period. They have demanded that an independent, high-level investigation be conducted to compare the relevant revenue records, old agreements, demarcation reports, and the situation on the spot. Furthermore, if deliberate alterations to documents or government records are confirmed, action should be taken against the responsible officials as per the law.
Villagers said that the issue is not limited to land demarcation, but also concerns the reliability of records related to government property and public roads. Therefore, any discrepancy between the old demarcations and the latest report must be seriously investigated.
SDM orders investigation In this case, SDM Kafota Jaspal has ordered an investigation by Tehsildar Kamaru. The investigation will now be crucial to clarify the circumstances recorded in the demarcations and revenue reports made in different years, what actually occurred during the action of September 21, 2026, and the truth behind the allegations made by the villagers. Only after the investigation's findings are released will the situation regarding alleged illegal occupation and tampering with revenue records become clear. UNI XC SS
Tags: #Himachal: Dispute over occupation of govt land in Kafota heats up
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