Sitrapur Congress Office Eviction: Allahabad High Court Refuses Stay on Vacating 55-Year-Old Property

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has refused to stay an eviction notice directing Congress to vacate its Sitapur office. The court noted that the property sits on nazul land and no rent has been paid since 1971.

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.

What this means for you
Across India: This ruling sets a precedent regarding the legal scrutiny over long-standing occupation of government or nazul land by political bodies and institutions.

In Sitapur: Local residents and political observers are closely watching how municipal authorities will proceed with the eviction of the prominent district-level party office.

Questions & Answers

1. Who issued the order to vacate the Congress office in Sitapur?
The municipal council of Sitapur issued the directive for the office to be vacated.

2. Which bench of the Allahabad High Court heard the case?
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court heard the matter through Justice Alok Mathur and Justice Amitabh Kumar Rai.

3. Since when has the Congress party occupied this property?
The party has occupied the Sitapur office location since 1971.

4. Why did the court deny interim relief to the party?
The court noted that no rent had been paid for 55 years and no valid allotment document was presented.

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