Rajasthan HC Shocked by Rs. 500 Crop Handover to Encroachers on Government Land in Dausa
The Rajasthan High Court expressed shock that encroachers on government land in Dausa were allowed to cultivate and received the harvested crop back for a mere Rs. 500, calling it a recurring practice enabled by revenue officials.
A Division Bench of the Rajasthan High Court at Jaipur, comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Chandra Shekhar Sharma, on 11 August 2026 expressed shock in open court that encroachers on government land in Tehsil Nirjharna, District Dausa had been permitted to cultivate that land and were subsequently handed the harvested crop at a price of just Rs. 500. The court directed the Tehsildar, the Nayab Tehsildar, the Inspector Land Record, and the Sarpanch of Gram Panchayat Jhanpda to file affidavits explaining their conduct. The State's counsel was also asked to indicate what action is proposed against the revenue officials who appeared before the court.
The Dispute Before the Court
The matter arises from D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 20370/2025 filed by Kunjilal Meena, son of Shri Kalyan Sahay Meena, against the State of Rajasthan. Connected with it is D.B. Civil Contempt Petition No. 405/2026, filed by the same petitioner against the State.
The petitioner is represented by Mr. Suresh Chandra Sharma. The State is represented by Ms. Shikha Sharma, Additional Advocate General. Four revenue and local body officials were personally present before the court on 11 August 2026: Ms. Seema Gunawat, Tehsildar of Tehsil Nirjharna; Mr. Sunil Kumar Meena, Nayab Tehsildar of the same tehsil; Mr. Mishrilal Meena, Inspector Land Record; and Mr. Pritam Singh, Sarpanch and Administrator of Gram Panchayat Jhanpda, Tehsil Nirjharna, District Dausa.
Encroachment Removed, Yet Crop Already Handed Over
During the hearing, the Tehsildar informed the court that the encroachment on the disputed land had now been removed. However, the court recorded that prior to this removal, encroachers had been allowed to cultivate the government land. The harvested crop was then handed back to those very encroachers at what the court described as a “throwaway price of Rs. 500/-”.
Counsel for the petitioner submitted that this is a recurring pattern: encroachments are removed when compelled, but the same encroachers are permitted to cultivate again shortly thereafter. The court took note of this submission on the record.
During the hearing, the Tehsildar handed over a chart to the court listing the names of the encroachers to whom the crop had been handed at the price of Rs. 500. The Division Bench took this document on record.
Court's Reaction and the Legal Concern
The bench used the word “shockingly” to characterise the conduct of the revenue administration. The court's concern is not merely with a one-off lapse but with a systemic failure: encroachments on government land are nominally removed, only for the same individuals to be allowed back to cultivate. The handing over of a standing or harvested crop at Rs. 500 to the very encroachers who had no right to the land in the first place is what drew the bench's direct censure.
The contempt petition running alongside the writ petition signals that earlier directions of the court may not have been complied with adequately, prompting the personal presence of the four officials before the bench. The court's direction to the State's counsel to clarify what action is proposed against these officials signals that accountability of the revenue machinery is squarely in issue.
Directions Issued
The Division Bench issued the following directions on 11 August 2026:
The Tehsildar Ms. Seema Gunawat was directed to file an affidavit before the next date of hearing setting out her stand on the events described in court.
The Sarpanch and Administrator Mr. Pritam Singh, Inspector Land Record Mr. Mishrilal Meena, and Nayab Tehsildar Mr. Sunil Kumar Meena were given an opportunity to place their stands before the court by filing affidavits before the next date.
The State's counsel Ms. Shikha Sharma was directed to assist the court on the next date regarding what action is proposed to be taken against the revenue officials who appeared before the bench.
The chart handed over by the Tehsildar, listing the encroachers who received the crop at Rs. 500, was taken on record.
Order
Both D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 20370/2025 and D.B. Civil Contempt Petition No. 405/2026 have been listed for further hearing on 8 September 2026. The four officials who appeared in person — the Tehsildar, Nayab Tehsildar, Inspector Land Record, and Sarpanch of Gram Panchayat Jhanpda — are required to file their affidavits before that date. The State is expected to indicate what action it proposes against those officials at the next hearing.