In August 2025, a wave of panic struck the residents of Diamond City locality in Bhopal's Kokta, when revenue officials from Tehsildar and SDM office labelled them as 'encroachers' on government land. While conducting a demarcation exercise in Bhopal's Kokta, the revenue officials concluded in September 2025 that numerous encroachments have come up over the land which is originally registered in the name of Animal Husbandry Department since 1991.
It was reported that illegal structures over 65 acres of land belonging to the Animal Husbandry Department have been erected, which include 40 buildings, 30 shops, a petrol pump, a private school, an under-construction Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and colony gates. Upon completion of land survey, notices were issued by Tehsildar to 36 individuals under MP Land Revenue Code 1959 seeking their response thereto.
The unnerved and perplexed residents of Diamond City Colony, 20 of whom were also issued encroachment notices, reported to have purchased the land with proper documents and bank clearances. Retired CSP Mangal Singh Thakare while talking to a local news media outlet stated that he bought his plot after thorough verification, including registry, diversion and khasra records dating back to 1959, whereby it was confirmed to him that it was not a government land. Some who had availed loan facility for purchase of plot and construction thereupon, fear demolition and consequent failure in repaying the loan sum. Apparently, two other colonies marked under demarcation drive, had been approved by Town and Country Planning (T&CP) Department.
The 36 noticees approached the High Court of Madhya Pradesh seeking reliefs for holding the demarcation exercise and demanding stay on ongoing demarcation proceedings. However, the High Court refused to entertain the petition of the applicants, citing existence of an alternative remedy under the Land Revenue Code. Accordingly, the affected individuals presented response to the notices at the Tehsildar Office in September 2025, stating that due diligence of land records and procedures had been followed while making land purchase. However, as per the administration, actions will be taken against the encroachers which may also lead to demolition proceedings.
On 17 September 2025, the High Court allowed petitioners to withdraw the writ petition and instead approach the Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue) under Section 129(5) of the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code.
This land survey exercise had been carried out by the administration after allegations of encroachment by an influential family facing criminal charges, surfaced. The demarcation drive also uncovers large-scale discrepancies in construction and sale of commercial and residential properties as well as issues of land governance in Bhopal. Possibilities of legal battle with Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) were not ruled out, as shops and other commercial units were sold under the BMC's market project.
However, the district administration is reportedly mulling the extension of Dharan Adhikar scheme to the occupiers of government land, whereby the land may be regularised allowing the eligible occupants to obtain formal ownership. Under the scheme, individuals occupying government land for residential or commercial purposes, can acquire ownership by paying a set premium at the tehsil office. Though, the affected individuals are first required to get the ownership documents and claims verified by the revenue administration.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Complaint against procedural violations
Demand for legal recognition of land rights
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Stay on demarcation proceedings; Demand to stop evictions
Region Classification
Urban and Rural
Type of Land
Common and Private
Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Agricultural land, Residential area, Commercial
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Land Reform Laws
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
Yes
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Land record discrepancies
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Disposed
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Yes
Name of the adjudicatory body
Govindpura Tehsildar Office
Name(s) of the Court(s)
High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Jabalpur
Case Number
W.P. No. 36296 of 2025
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Animal Husbandry Department (Govt. of MP); Collector Bhopal; SDM Govindpura and Tehsildar Huzur; Bhopal Municipal Corporation; Town and Country Planning Department
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
