Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday directed officials to grant legal land ownership rights to families displaced from former East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and rehabilitated in various districts of the state, terming the move a step toward delivering long-overdue justice.
Chairing a high-level meeting, CM Yogi emphasized that this initiative is not just about land allocation but about “honouring the decades-long struggle” of thousands of families who sought refuge in India after being displaced. He called on officials to treat the matter with empathy, noting that ensuring these families receive rightful ownership is a “moral and national responsibility.”
Officials informed the Chief Minister that between 1960 and 1975, thousands of families displaced from East Pakistan were settled in districts including Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Bijnor, and Rampur through transit camps. While land was allotted to them for agricultural use, most have not received formal ownership due to record-keeping errors, land being registered under the Forest Department, or administrative delays in land mutation.
Despite cultivating the land and constructing permanent homes, many of these families still lack legal documentation proving ownership. In several cases, the land has been encroached upon or the original beneficiaries are no longer present, further complicating the situation.
CM Yogi instructed officials to explore legal options within the current framework, especially in cases involving land granted under the now-repealed Government Grants Act of 1895. He stressed that all solutions must be found within legal limits but should reflect compassion and urgency.
Calling it an act of “social justice, humanity, and national responsibility,” the Chief Minister said this effort will offer long-awaited dignity and security to families that have been neglected for generations.
