Man Claims Ownership of Land Between Yamuna And Ganga; Fined Rs 1 Lakh
On Thursday, the Delhi High Court took a firm stance against a petition filed by Kunwar Mahender Dhwaj Prasad Singh, imposing a hefty fine of ₹1 lakh. Singh had moved the court, claiming ownership of extensive lands including parts of Agra, Meerut, Aligarh, and 65 revenue estates across Delhi, Gurgaon, and Uttarakhand.
However, the Court dismissed his plea, citing unreasonable delay and the principle of extinguishment, as the petition was brought more than seven decades after India gained independence.
A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora asserted that Singh”s petition was untimely, questioning the validity of his claims given the prolonged delay in legal action. The bench remarked, “You say you own the entire area between Yamuna and Ganga. On what basis you’re coming? After 75 years, you have woken up… We are in 2024 now… Whether you’re the raja or not, we don’t know,” as quoted by Bar and Bench.
The Court highlighted that Singh”s claims were factual in nature and unsuitable for resolution through writ proceedings. “How do we know you’re the owner? We don’t have the paper,” said the Court, highlighting the lack of substantive evidence supporting Singh”s assertions.
Singh had argued that he was the heir of Beswan Avibhajya Rajya, a princely state that never merged with the Union of India. He claimed that the family continued to hold the status of a princely state and that the family-owned terrorities were never transferred to the government of India.
He sought directions for the government to formalise the merger process with his alleged state, the ‘Sovereign State of Beswa Avibhajay Rajya of Beswan’, and demanded payment of revenue collected since 1950 for the lands in question. Additionally, Singh asked the Indian Government not to conduct Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, state assembly, or local body elections until the official merger.
Ruling against Singh”s claims, Justice Subramonium Prasad stated that the evidence presented, including maps and articles, failed to substantiate his right to succeed to the alleged princely state or even the existence of the Beswan family. The Court deemed Singh”s petition misconceived, an abuse of legal process, and a waste of judicial time.
This verdict comes after Singh was initially penalised with ₹10,000 by a single judge of the High Court. The Division Bench heard his appeal against the single judge”s order, ultimately rejecting his case.
