This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs' response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2009, addressed on July 31, 2025, regarding encroachment on government land. The response clarifies that the regulation of land use and town planning, including matters related to illegal encroachment on government land, falls under the jurisdiction of respective State Governments/Union Territories. However, regarding properties under the Land Development Office (LDO) of the Ministry in Delhi, encroachment cases are addressed through administrative action and legal instruments such as the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupation) Act, 1971. Central government vacant land parcels of LDO in other states have been entrusted to the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) for care and maintenance, with CPWD responsible for taking action against any encroachment. The Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Tokhan Sahu, provided this answer.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for policy and programs related to housing and urban development.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Manju Sharma: Member of parliament who raised the question regarding encroachment on government land.
Tokhan Sahu: Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, who provided the answer to the question.
State Government/Union Territory: The governing bodies responsible for land regulation and town planning within their respective jurisdictions in India.
Land Development Office (LDO), Delhi: An office under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs responsible for properties in Delhi, and dealing with encroachment through administrative action and legal instruments.
Public Premises Eviction of Unauthorized Occupation Act, 1971: An act used by the Land Development Office (LDO) to address encroachment on government land in Delhi.
Central Public Works Department (CPWD): An agency responsible for the care and maintenance of central government vacant land parcels of LDO in states other than Delhi and takes action against any encroachment.
O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2009
TO BE ANSWERED ON JULY 31, 2025
ENCROACHMENT ON GOVERNMENT LAND
NO. 2009. SMT. MANJU SHARMA:
Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased
to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that encroachment on Government land in
various parts of the country takes place with the connivance of
the concerned officials;
(b) if so, the reasons for not imposing penalty on the concerned
officials when structures built on Government land are
demolished; and
(c) whether it is true that encroachment can be prevented in case
such a decision is taken and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
(SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)
(a) to (c): Regulation of land use and town planning are State subjects
and matters related to illegal encroachment of Government land fall
under the jurisdiction of the respective State Government/Union
Territory (UT). However, as far as properties of Land & Development
Office (L&DO) of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in Delhi
are concerned, cases of encroachment are dealt through
administrative action and instrumentalities like the Public Premises
(Eviction of Unauthorized Occupation) Act, 1971. With respect to
Central govt. vacant land parcels of L&DO in other states, the same
have been given to Central Public Works Department (CPWD) for care
& maintenance. CPWD accordingly takes action for any
encroachment.
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