Nagar Panchayat Arki member disqualified for land encroachment”

Nagar Panchayat Arki Member Disqualified for Land Encroachment”

Shimla, May 24

The Urban Development department has disqualified Surender Sharma, a member of the Nagar Panchayat Arki, for encroaching upon and constructing a three-story building on 150 square meters of state government land.

In an order issued by Director of Urban Development, Gopal Chand, it was stated that Surender Sharma is disqualified as a member of the Nagar Panchayat, Arki, with immediate effect, and he is no longer allowed to hold office in the civic body, citing section 16(1)(c) of the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Act, 1994.
The decision to disqualify Sharma came after a complaint was filed on December 14, 2022, by Anuj Gupta against the disqualified member of Ward No. 4, N.P. Arki, regarding encroachment on government land. The encroached areas include Khasra No. 255, measuring 03-60 square meters, Khasra No. 256, measuring 67-86 square meters, and Khasra No. 260, Rakwa, measuring 52-03 square meters, situated in Mauza Arki in Solan district
Following the complaint, the Deputy Commissioner of Solan ordered the concerned Sub-Divisional Officer (C) to conduct an investigation and submit a fact-finding report.

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The Sub-Divisional Officer (C), Arki, submitted the report to the DC Solan, stating that after an inquiry conducted by the Tehsildar, Arki, it was found that the said land is recorded as owned by the Government of Himachal Pradesh and is in possession of HPPWD according to revenue records.
Surender Sharma was given an opportunity to respond to the complaint, but he failed to provide evidence supporting his claim over the land as per revenue records. As a result of his encroachment on government land, he was disqualified under the relevant sections of the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Act.