Prayagraj: The Allahabad high court has stayed the notice dated January 1, 2026 issued by the Sambhal administration, whereby a local resident was directed to furnish proof regarding his possession over land in dispute.Challenging the order in high court, Ali Ashraf contended that the land had been registered as ‘kabristan’ in revenue record and was attached with Shahi Jama Masjid of Sambhal. Besides, the petitioner was in possession of the land for a long time and there existed his residential house.Hearing the petition, Justice Manish Kumar Nigam in his March 25 order also directed both sides to maintain status quo. The court directed the state government to file a reply in the matter and also directed to list this case on May 6 for the next hearing.“All the respondents may file a counter-affidavit within four weeks disclosing the source of authority under which the notice under challenge has been issued. In the counter-affidavit, it may also be informed as to whether any proceedings have been initiated against the petitioner under any law for the time being in force in the state of Uttar Pradesh and if any proceedings have been initiated, details of the same may also be given in the counter affidavit,” the court added.During the court proceedings, the counsel for the petitioner took the plea that petitioner – Ali Ashraf is in possession over the land in dispute and there exists a residential house of the petitioner. It was also submitted by the counsel for the petitioner that land in dispute has been used as Abadi for more than 200 years and several transactions have taken place during this period between the inhabitants of the property in dispute. Hence, the petitioner is in settled possession over the land in dispute and therefore, he cannot be evicted except in accordance with law, especially, by merely issuing a notice on the administrative side.On the other hand, the state counsel submitted that petitioner has only challenged a notice and that writ petition is not maintainable against the notice. In the notice itself, it has been provided that the petitioner may file his objections and evidence in support of his case. It was also submitted by the state counsel that the state in its administrative power can evict unauthorized occupants from the public utility land.That present proceedings was initiated on a complaint made by Subhash Chandra Tyagi, advocate and the national coordinator of Shri Kalki Sena (Nishkalank Dal). Responding to the complaint, the Sambhal SDM constituted a committee for demarcation of land fixing. This order was challenged by several persons and the writ petition was disposed by by the high court on Dec 31, 2025.The bench said that the high court gave liberty to the petitioners to appear before the revenue team constituted under the impugned order for measurement and survey of land and petitioners were to be heard at the time of measurement proceedings. “This order was passed on Dec 31, 2025. However, without complying with this order, in undue haste, notice impugned was issued on 01.01.2006,” the bench said in its order.
