The Sambhal district administration in Uttar Pradesh has cancelled four land leases issued in 1991 for around 31 bigha of land situated along the Ganga river in Surpur village of Gunnour tehsil.
The action follows an administrative inquiry which allegedly found that the original classification of the land had been altered in official records before the leases were granted. Authorities have also directed that the land's original classification be restored in the revenue records.
Inquiry Led to Cancellation of Leases
The cancellation order was issued by the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) based on an inquiry report submitted by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Gunnour.
According to officials, the investigation compared different sets of revenue records and found inconsistencies in the recorded category of the land.
The administration has initiated the process of restoring the original status of the land in the official records.
Land Allegedly Reclassified Before Allotment
Officials stated that while the current Khatauni recorded the land as non-transferable landholder property, older consolidation records, including Forms 41 and 45, classified it as Category 6(1) submerged river land.
According to the inquiry, the land was allegedly shown as agricultural land before leases were issued.
The administration alleges that this change enabled the allotment of land that was originally recorded as part of the riverbed.
Four Leases Issued in 1991 Cancelled
The cancelled leases were issued on 17 November 1991.
According to the administration, the allotments were made in the names of:
- Shrinivas
- Sher Singh
- Shakuntala
- Prakash Chandra
Officials stated that the inquiry found the allotment process did not comply with the provisions of Section 128 of the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code, 2006, leading to the cancellation of the leases.
Necessary corrections are now being made to restore the land to its original classification in the revenue records.
Similar Pattern Found in Earlier Cases
The Surpur case emerged during the investigation of another alleged land allotment matter in Sukhailla village.
According to the administration, that earlier inquiry involved approximately:
- 845 bigha of Ganga river land
- 162 allegedly irregular leases
Officials stated that both cases displayed a similar pattern in which land originally recorded as riverbed was allegedly shown as agricultural land before lease allotments were made.
Land Worth Around ₹18 Crore Under Review
Authorities stated that nearly 850 bigha (approximately 71.55 hectares) of government land is presently under scrutiny.
The estimated value of the land under review is approximately ₹18 crore, according to official estimates.
The administration is examining historical lease records across villages located along the Ganga river to determine whether additional irregular allotments took place.
Multiple Villages Under Examination
The review is not limited to Surpur alone.
Officials stated that revenue records relating to villages in:
- Rajpura
- Gunnour
- Junawai
are also being examined as part of the wider investigation into historical government land allotments near the Ganga river.
The objective is to distinguish legally granted leases from those that may have involved procedural irregularities.
Officials Also Under Investigation
The administration indicated that the inquiry has also raised questions regarding the possible role or negligence of certain officials associated with the revenue and consolidation departments.
According to officials, further action will depend on the findings of the ongoing investigation.
If any public servants or other individuals are found responsible for unlawful allotments or record manipulation, appropriate legal and departmental proceedings may follow in accordance with law.
Revenue Records Being Re-Examined
Authorities stated that older lease records are being systematically reviewed to verify whether the land classifications were altered before allotment.
The administration expects that additional cases could emerge as the examination of historical records continues.
The inquiry remains ongoing, and the findings are subject to further administrative and legal proceedings.
Shunyatax Global Insight
Land classification forms the foundation of every property transaction and government allotment. Any alteration in revenue records can have significant legal and financial consequences, particularly where public or environmentally sensitive land is involved. Regular digitisation of land records, cross-verification between historical and current revenue documents, and transparent audit mechanisms are essential to reduce the risk of unauthorised land allotments and protect public assets.