Law & Justice
Haldwani Under Tight Security as Supreme Court Set to Hear Railway Land Dispute
Authorities have turned Banbhoolpura, a neighborhood in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, into a high-security zone ahead of a Supreme Court hearing scheduled for Wednesday concerning a long-running railway land dispute. The area has been divided into sectors, zones, and super zones, with large numbers of police personnel deployed and reinforcements brought in from other regions.
Senior Superintendent of Police Manjunath TC told The Indian Express that additional forces were provided by the state police headquarters and the Kumaon Range. He said a general alert had been sounded and specialized deployment arranged, including multiple companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary, tear-gas squads, anti-riot units, armed personnel, and drone surveillance teams. Fire department staff, traffic police, and other specialized teams will also be stationed in the area. The Local Intelligence Unit and wireless communication teams will support coordination among police units. Manjunath said the exact number of personnel deployed would be disclosed later.
The dispute centers on land near Haldwani railway station, spanning the Gafoor Basti, Dholak Basti, and Indira Nagar localities. The Railways claims ownership of this land and alleges that structures have been built there without authorization. A joint survey conducted by the Railways and district administration in 2016-17 identified 4,365 structures as encroachments.
More than 50,000 people live in the contested area, which also contains three government schools, 11 private schools, 10 mosques, 12 madrassas, a government-run public health centre, and a temple, according to figures presented before the Supreme Court.
The origins of the case trace back to Uttarakhand High Court proceedings on illegal sand mining in the Gaula river, which runs alongside the railway station. The encroachment issue was later incorporated into that litigation. In December 2022, the High Court ordered residents to vacate the land within a week and permitted the use of force if needed, sparking protests in Haldwani. In January 2023, the Supreme Court stayed this eviction order, citing concerns about displacing roughly 50,000 people and emphasizing the need to balance the Railways' requirements with residents' rehabilitation.
The Railways bases its ownership claim on a 1959 notification, 1971 revenue records, and the 2016-17 survey findings. Residents, many of whom say their families have lived in the area for generations, cite a 1907 document to argue the land was "nazul" land—government property historically made available for private settlement under certain conditions—along with records of occupation and property transactions. However, the Uttarakhand High Court rejected this interpretation, ruling that the 1907 record did not establish the legal status residents claimed.
The Railways has stated it needs the land to expand and realign infrastructure at Haldwani station, including additional lines and platforms, a coach-washing pit, a repair shed, and stabling lines for parked coaches. It has also cited safety concerns due to the area's proximity to the Gaula river.
In July 2024, the Supreme Court directed authorities to determine exactly how much land was needed for railway purposes, identify affected families, and prepare a rehabilitation plan. In February 2026, the Court issued a substantive ruling stating that occupants could not claim an indefinite legal right to remain on the disputed land. It ordered authorities to evaluate affected families for rehabilitation and facilitate their applications, while clarifying that residents could not demand resettlement at the same location. The case now returns to the Supreme Court for its next hearing on Wednesday.