Supreme Court Grants Relief to Dharamshala Resident Over Quashed Land Regularization Provision

The Supreme Court granted interim protection to a Dharamshala resident after the Himachal Pradesh High Court struck down Section 163A of the Himachal Pradesh Land Revenue Act, 1952, which had permitted regularisation of encroachments on government land.

A Division Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued notice to the Union and State governments and directed that the status quo be maintained regarding the petitioner’s property.

The petitioner, in possession since 1992, contended that the High Court failed to differentiate between long-term occupants and recent encroachers and sought restraint on eviction or demolition pending final adjudication.

[Trilochan Singh v State of Himachal Pradesh & Ors.]