Garhwa/Obra: A mahapanchayat convened at Vishwakarma Tola in Obra on Friday to address a 23-year-old land dispute between two groups, with around 500 people from various panchayats attending the gathering. In a move aimed at maintaining peace and preventing further escalation, the mahapanchayat decided that the disputed government land would remain under the custody of the Circle Officer until the matter is resolved by the revenue authorities or a competent court.
Five individuals were formally nominated as panchs to facilitate an impartial hearing, with one of them unanimously elected as the presiding member. Representatives of both parties presented their respective claims and documents before the gathering, while Circle Officer Pravin Singh attended the proceedings to explain the government’s position on the disputed property.
Dispute Involves Government Land
The dispute primarily concerns land belonging to the Jharkhand government, which, according to the Circle Officer, is not privately owned raiyati land. He informed the panchs that the authenticity of the documents submitted by both parties would need to be verified before any conclusive decision could be taken. He accordingly proposed that the disputed land be placed under government custody until the matter is legally settled.
The first party was represented by Harendra Vishwakarma, Mahendra Vishwakarma, Jaishankar Vishwakarma and Vinod Vishwakarma. The second party included Ajay Vishwakarma, Ramji Vishwakarma, Vishwanath Vishwakarma, Manik Vishwakarma, Satyendra Vishwakarma, Ravi Vishwakarma, Sandeep Vishwakarma, Nagendra Vishwakarma, Ashutosh Vishwakarma and Yogendra Vishwakarma.
Mahapanchayat Calls for Status Quo
After hearing both sides and examining the documents presented before it, the panchs unanimously endorsed the Circle Officer’s proposal and laid down conditions to maintain peace until the dispute is resolved through the appropriate legal process.
Under the decision, the disputed land will remain under the custody of the Jharkhand government, with the Circle Officer responsible for conducting an official measurement and securing the land in accordance with the applicable procedure. The second party was also directed not to obstruct the first party’s continued occupation of the portion of the non-majarua land where its house has stood for years.
The decision further provides that, following official measurement, any land found available after the government’s claim has been established will be measured and allotted to the first party, subject to verification of its entitlement and the applicable legal provisions. Any subsequent action will be guided by the orders of the competent court.
Circle Officer Says Legal Process Will Determine Further Action
Explaining the outcome, Circle Officer Pravin Singh said the dispute had primarily arisen over the alleged unauthorised occupation of government land by the two parties. He said the mahapanchayat had helped facilitate a peaceful resolution of the immediate dispute and that the land had been brought back under government custody.
“Further action will be taken strictly in accordance with the orders of the competent court,” Singh said, reiterating that the matter would be handled through the appropriate legal process.
The proceedings have drawn attention in the locality, with residents appreciating the administration’s efforts to bring both sides together and prevent the longstanding dispute from escalating. The peaceful conduct of the mahapanchayat has been viewed by local residents as a constructive initiative towards resolving local conflicts through dialogue, administrative intervention and adherence to the law.
