The legal issue was that of selling of non cultivable land to encroachers by the Gram Panchayat.
This is a summary of the Supreme Court of India’s judgment in Civil Appeal Nos. 2984-2985 of 2022 (@SLP (C) Nos. 7279-7280 of 2022) (@ Diary No. 1410 of 2018) – State of Haryana and Ors. vs Satpal & Ors. The State of Haryana and Ors. appealed against the High Court of Punjab and Haryana’s order, which quashed their order of ejectment of the respondents – original writ petitioners – from Khasra Nos. 61/2 and 62, which belong to the Gram Panchayat. The respondents had encroached upon this land, which is part of the school premises, and offered to exchange equivalent vacant land in Khasra No. 63. The High Court directed the newly constituted Gram Panchayat to consider the claim of individual encroachers on merits and take appropriate decisions. The Court also directed that the Gram Panchayat may sell its non-cultivable land in Shamlat Deh to the inhabitants of the village who have constructed their houses on or before 31st March 2000, subject to certain conditions. The Supreme Court disposed of the appeal by upholding the High Court’s order.