More than 180 families in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, have received eviction notices from the Forest Department, accused of living illegally on government land. The villagers, mostly from the community around the historic Noori Masjid, say their families have lived here since British times. Recently, part of the 185-year-old mosque was demolished, but the mosque committee says it has been there since 1839 and is fighting the demolition in court.
However, the district administration stated that the portion demolished was illegally constructed 2-3 years ago and claims that satellite images and historical images support this claim. Meanwhile, the villagers have travelled hundreds of kilometres to the Divisional Forest Office to find the truth about the eviction and in the hope of solace.
Divisional Officer B. Shiv Shankar confirmed that the eviction notices were issued under Section 61 B. They learned that villagers who can provide valid documents as proof of residence will not be removed.
The Noori Masjid has also been on the eviction list, which has put the villagers in more dismay. The villagers grieve that the mosque and their lives in the region have been the foundation of their existence for generations, and questioning the proof of residence is questioning their very existence.
Section 61A of the Forest Act, 1927, disposes of the legal rights to a Divisional Forest Officer or a Forest Officer above the rank, “is of the opinion that any person is in unauthorised occupation of any land in areas constituted as a reserved or protected forest….he should be evicted, the Forest Officer shall issue a notice in writing calling upon the person concerned to show cause, on or before such date as is specified in the notice, why an order of eviction should not be made,” and if such a notice has been sent, then the law can lead to eviction within the next 10 days from the date of the order. The law also seeks the Forest Officer or the duly authorised persons to use force, if necessary, to remove the said unauthorised occupant.
The Mosque Management Committee has stated that they have already moved the plea with the Allahabad High Court, and the hearing is scheduled for December 12.
Villagers of the region are also awaiting a fair disposition on their side for safeguarding their rights over the land and the homes built by their ancestors.
