Orissa HC Allows CRPF Deployment for Chilika Eviction Drive

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has directed authorities to deploy Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, if required, during eviction operations against illegal encroachments on government land under Chilika tehsil.

The court instructed the Khordha SP to ensure adequate police presence on the eviction date fixed by the tehsildar or authorised officer. In case of insufficient local police availability, CRPF personnel may be deployed to support the drive.

The bench also stressed that the eviction must follow legal procedures based on the joint field inquiry report submitted on August 2, 2023, and in alignment with the Revenue and Disaster Management Department’s guidelines issued on July 5, 2024. Authorities have been asked to carry out further verification if needed and proceed with demolishing illegal constructions within three months.

The directive was issued by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice M.S. Raman while hearing a PIL filed by Gopinath Biswal and 13 others from Bhagabatipur village under Tangi police limits.

The PIL, filed in 2014, challenged illegal encroachment and construction on government grazing land in Bhagabatipur. Despite villagers raising objections since 1990 and filing multiple complaints, no significant action was taken. Although the Khordha Sub-Collector in 1994 had ordered a halt to construction, the encroachments reportedly continued.

With authorities failing to address the issue for decades, villagers approached the High Court, leading to the latest intervention.