Court Orders Personal Appearance of District Magistrate; Stays Construction Until Compliance with Demarcation Orders
The Allahabad High Court has expressed strong disapproval of the administrative inaction regarding the demarcation of land belonging to La Martiniere College, Lucknow. The Division Bench in Lucknow, presided over by Justices Alok Mathur and Amitabh Kumar Rai, directed the District Magistrate of Lucknow to appear in person following repeated failures to comply with court orders for land demarcation.
In the case titled "La Martiniere College Lucknow v. State of U.P.," the court emphasized the importance of proper land demarcation, which has been pending since 2016. Despite previous directives, the District Magistrate and related authorities have not conducted the necessary proceedings. The court noted that the demarcation report submitted was inadequate, consisting merely of colored satellite maps without detailed measurements or plot numbers.
The court's order dated 27th February 2026 mandated the Sub Divisional Magistrate to conduct the demarcation in the presence of representatives from both the petitioner and the state. However, the proceedings have stalled, prompting the court to require the District Magistrate to provide an explanation for the delays.
Furthermore, the court imposed an interim stay on any construction activities on the land until proper permissions from the trustees are obtained. The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) was also directed to explain how construction commenced without requisite permissions and to produce relevant documents.
The High Court criticized the lack of action and deemed the authorities' efforts as deliberately insufficient. The District Magistrate's absence from court and request for exemption due to participation in other official functions were met with the court's serious displeasure.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for 16th March 2026 at 10:15 AM, insisting on the District Magistrate's presence to ensure compliance and accountability. The interim stay on construction remains effective until the matter is resolved.
Bottom Line:
Directions issued for the demarcation of land belonging to La Martiniere College, Lucknow; District Magistrate, Lucknow instructed to ensure compliance and appear in court for failure to carry out proper demarcation.
Statutory provision(s): Not specifically mentioned in the judgment provided.
