Shimla, October 28 : The HP High Court has directed the Chief Secretary, Secretary (Revenue), Kangra Deputy Commissioner, Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) and Uprali Darli Gram Panchayat in Kangra district to file their reply on a petition challenging the action of the gram panchayat on issuing no objection certificate (NOC) to the HPCA for the construction of a motel in a village near Dharamsala (Uprali dari panchayat).
While issuing notices to all respondents, the division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ram Bhuwan Mishra and Justice Rajeev Sharma directed the respondents to file reply within four weeks.
Petitioners Bihari Lal and Nirdesh Kumar had filed the petition alleging that the land in question comprising khsra No 389/400 (at present) in Mahal Kand Mauza Ghaniara, Dharamsala tehsil, Kangra district, was under the gram panchayat and recorded as chargah billa darkhtan kabja bartan daran.
The petitioners mentioned that the land had vested in the state government under the Village Common Vesting Land Act. They further added that as per the orders of this court this land cannot be used for any other purpose than agricultural or development activities pertaining to agriculture.
The petitioners mentioned that the Uprali Dari Gram Panchayat issued the NOC to the HPCA in an illegal manner to construct a motel on the land in question. They also mentioned that the respondent association was processing its case before the state government to transfer this land in the name of the association.