Notice to state, railway authorities over ‘encroachment’ by Radha Soami sect

Vijay Arora

Shimla, November 23

The High Court today issued notices to the state government, railway authorities and district administration on the issue of alleged encroachment on a huge area of forest land by Radha Soami Satsang (Beas), Paror, Kangra district.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Sandeep Sharma directed the authorities to file their responses within two weeks.

The court passed the orders on a letter petition taken up suo motu by the court as a public interest litigation petition on a letter written by residents of Paror alleging that Radha Soami Satsung (Beas) indulged in illegal activities in Paror.

It was further alleged in the petition that the sect was unauthorisedly changing the land use by demolishing 648-kanal tea garden and constructing a huge shed there on without any prior sanction from the state government. It had also illegally encroached upon 550-kanal government land, the letter stated.

Apart from this, it had also encroached upon railway land. While treating this letter as a public interest litigation, the court directed the authorities to file their replies within two weeks and listed the matter for further hearing on December 13.