Special Correspondent
Ukhrul, July 29:
In a decisive move to reclaim government land, the Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul, Asish Das, IAS, has issued an eviction order against encroachers occupying portions of the District Court Complex (Old SDO Complex) in Ukhrul town. The action follows an official enquiry report submitted by the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of Ukhrul, dated July 16, 2025.
According to the SDO’s report, two major encroachments were identified within the government premises:
Jama Masjid, which has extended its structure by approximately 17.32 square feet beyond its allotted size of 40×32 square feet, and
One P.N. Sorin, who has encroached an estimated 58×35 square feet on the southern side of the Court Complex.
Invoking Section 3(1)(i) of the Manipur Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupant) Act, 1978, the Deputy Commissioner directed the aforementioned individuals/entities to remove the unauthorized constructions and vacate the premises within 10 days from the date of the order. Failure to comply, the order states, will result in forcible eviction without further notice, with the SDO Ukhrul entrusted to carry out the eviction proceedings.
This directive comes at a crucial time as the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court, Justice Somasekhar, along with Justices A. Bimol and Guneshwar Sharma, recently visited the site and gave their consent to commence construction of the new District Court Complex in September 2025.
The unauthorized occupation has been cited as a key barrier delaying vital judicial infrastructure work in the district. The upcoming construction is expected to significantly improve legal access and institutional capacity in Ukhrul.
The district administration’s firm stance is being viewed as a bold step to uphold the rule of law and protect public property from illegal encroachments, setting a precedent for future actions across Manipur’s hill districts.