Photo used for indicative purpose only. Source internet
New Delhi, Sept 19,
The Supreme Court of India today directed ‘ Status quo’ after hearing a petition filed by Dr. Onkar Singh Shad, former General Secretary of CPI(M)-affiliated Himachal Kisan Sabha, challenging the Himachal Pradesh High Court judgment that struck down Section 163A of the Himachal Pradesh Land Revenue Act.
The matter was listed at serial number 56 before a bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta. Registered as SLP(C) the case was filed on September 16 and came up for admission hearing today. Speaking after the hearing, Dr. Shad said, “The Supreme Court has tagged our intervention application with the SLP and directed status quo. This is a significant step to safeguard the interests of farmers and revenue administration in Himachal Pradesh.”
On August 5, 2025, the Himachal Pradesh High Court in Poonam Gupta vs State of Himachal Pradesh had held Section 163A to be arbitrary and unconstitutional. A division bench of Justice Vivek Singh Thakur and Justice Bipin Chander Negi, directed the state to initiate eviction proceedings against all such encroachments that were to be covered under the now-defunct provision and had struck down Section 163-A of the Himachal Pradesh Land Revenue Act, 1954, declaring it unconstitutional. The section deals with certain powers and procedures relating to land revenue administration, including mutation and correction of records.
Also read:Illegal land grabs, can’t be legalised: Himachal HC quashes section 163-A
Dr. Shad, who appeared as the petitioner through Advocate Pranjal Kishore, argued that the High Court’s ruling would create an administrative vacuum and negatively impact farmers and rural landholders. The respondents include the State of Himachal Pradesh, its Principal Secretary (Revenue), the Union of India, and several private parties including Poonam Gupta. Advocate C. George Thomas appeared for the respondents on caveat.
After hearing the matter, the apex court ordered that the intervention application filed in the case be tagged with the main Special Leave Petition. The Court also directed that status quo be maintained until further orders.
The matter will now come up for detailed hearing at a later date.
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