The Congress party faces an imminent ouster from its local headquarters in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, after the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court declined to grant a stay on municipal eviction orders. The court rejected an appeal filed by the local party president challenging a directive that originally gave the organization 15 days to vacate the premises located in the Tamsen Ganj area, specifically plot number 244/1 near the town clock tower, where the party has operated since 1971.
During the proceedings, a bench comprising Justice Alok Mathur and Justice Amitabh Kumar Rai emphasized that prolonged occupation of government property does not automatically confer legal ownership. The judges observed that the petitioners failed to produce any formal allotment order or supporting documentation to establish that the land was legally assigned to them. Representing the state, government counsels strongly opposed the petition, maintaining that the real estate is classified as nazul land and the occupation lacks statutory backing.
Lack of Legal Proof and Unpaid Dues
While lawyers for the political party argued their presence dated back to 1971 and even submitted a historical receipt showing a payment of 320 rupees from that year, the bench highlighted a glaring fifty-five-year gap during which not a single rupee of rent was deposited. The court reiterated that historical possession alone holds no legal weight without contemporaneous records of a valid lease or transfer deed. Consequently, the request for interim relief was dismissed.
Next Steps in the Legal Battle
Following the rejection of the interim stay, the high court directed the opposing parties to submit their counter-affidavits within three weeks. Furthermore, the petitioners have been granted a window of two weeks to file their rejoinders. The ruling leaves the long-standing district office vulnerable to immediate municipal action unless further legal remedies alter its status.
