Haldwani violence: what is Nazool land
- Recently, violence erupted in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani district following a demolition drive conducted by the administration at the site of a mosque and madrasa allegedly on Nazool land, resulting in five deaths and numerous injuries.
Nazool Land
- Nazool land is owned by the government but, generally, it is not directly administered as state property.
- The state generally allots such land to any entity on lease for a fixed period, typically between 15 and 99 years.
- The lease can be renewed or cancelled by the government, which then repossesses the land.
- Various states have established rules for Nazool land management, with the Nazool Lands (Transfer) Rules, 1956 being widely used.
Emergence of Nazool Land
- During the British colonial era, rulers and kingdoms that resisted British rule often engaged in rebellions, resulting in numerous conflicts.
- Following victories in these battles, the British frequently confiscated land from these rulers.
- After India gained independence, these lands became vacant and were marked as Nazool land - to be owned by the respective state governments.
- Due to the lack of adequate documentation proving ownership by the former kings and royals
Utilization of Nazool Land
- The government generally uses Nazool land for public purposes like building schools, hospitals, Gram Panchayat buildings, etc.
- In some cases, large tracts of land denoted as Nazool land are leased to housing societies.
Status of Haldwani Land
- The Haldwani district administration claims that the land where the structures were demolished was registered as Nazool land owned by the Municipal Council.
- A notice was issued on January 30 for removal of encroachments or submission of ownership documents within three days.
- This was followed by a demolition drive on February 3 after locals' application and discussions, supposedly with consent from the court.
- However, a councillor, disputes this, stating that locals had requested a delay until the High Court hearing.