20 Mar 2025

A special court in Odisha has directed the restoration of funds worth INR 450 crore, attached by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), to rightful investors linked to the multi-state chit fund scam allegedly operated by the Rose Valley group of companies. The special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Bhubaneswar ordered the release of INR 332.76 crore, which had accrued to INR 450 crore with interest. The asset disposal committee (ADC), established by the Calcutta High Court, has been overseeing the restitution process. So far, 31 lakh investors have registered their claims, with 32,319 claims already processed, resulting in a disbursal of approximately INR 22 crore.Read more

20 Mar 2025

Between April 2024 and the end of January 2025, authorities detected 173 cases of illegal sand extraction in Dakshina Kannada district and 103 cases in Udupi district. In response, officials seized numerous vehicles, boats, and machinery involved in the illicit activity. Fines totalling INR 54 lakh and INR 19.6 lakh were imposed in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, respectively. Mines and Geology Minister SS Mallikarjun stated that measures have been taken to curb illegal activities, including auctioning sand blocks and approving legal sand leases, while M-Sand units continue to meet construction demands.Read more

20 Mar 2025

The Rajasthan government has announced plans to regularize 87 unauthorized colonies on land owned by the Rajasthan Housing Board (RHB), mainly in Jaipur's Sanganer constituency. Residents will receive lease deeds (pattas) after paying government fees, bringing these colonies into the legal system for tax and utility collections. The Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) will manage this process through special camps in July. Additionally, JDA plans to expand its jurisdiction from 5,000 to 6,000 sq. km by 2047, integrating 272 villages. While this aims to tackle urban challenges, experts warn it could lead to unplanned urban sprawl and loss of agricultural land.Read more

20 Mar 2025

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to take immediate action against illegal land encroachments, emphasizing strict legal measures against those who seize property from the poor. Speaking at a 'janata darshan' in Gorakhpur, he assured swift resolutions for public grievances. Encroachers may face fines and imprisonment under Section 447 of the IPC. Other states, including Tamil Nadu and Assam, have also intensified anti-encroachment efforts. UP's initiative aims to uphold social justice, safeguard property rights, and reinforce the rule of law, ensuring protection for marginalized communities from unlawful land seizures.Read more

19 Mar 2025

The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation intensified its action against illegal constructions by demolishing six structures and clearing eight encroachments in different areas of the city. Additionally, officials sealed five unauthorized shops in Pritam Nagar, Barewal Road, and 200 Feet Road. Industrial buildings and a labor quarter under construction were also razed, along with multiple encroachments near Krishna Mandir and Amardas Colony. This crackdown follows a series of past actions, including demolitions in Star Road, Tajpur Road, and Lohara, highlighting the MC's continued efforts to curb unauthorized development. However, the drive faced resistance from shopkeepers in Model Town Extension, who accused authorities of selective action.Read more

19 Mar 2025

The Mizoram state legislative assembly has unanimously approved the adoption of "The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act, 2013." The decision follows the Gauhati High Court's ruling that rendered the state's own land acquisition law, enacted in 2016, inapplicable. With several pending land acquisition cases, the state needed a valid legal framework. Due to special constitutional provisions under Article 371G, central laws related to land ownership and transfer require a formal resolution from the state legislature for implementation in Mizoram. With this adoption, the state now has a transparent and legally enforceable framework for land acquisition, ensuring fair compensation and due process for affected stakeholders.Read more

19 Mar 2025

The Nilgiris district administration has intensified its crackdown on unauthorized constructions to protect the region's ecology and enforce building regulations. Recently, officials sealed a 5,000-square-foot illegal structure in Karimora, which had exceeded its approved residential limits and was illegally repurposed as a tourist stay. Similar actions have been taken in the Segur plateau elephant corridor and Shimla, where thousands of unauthorized buildings threaten environmental stability. Illegal structures in hill stations increase landslide risks, infrastructure strain, and ecological damage. The Nilgiris administration's actions highlight the need for strict enforcement to ensure sustainable development and environmental protection.Read more

19 Mar 2025

The Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court has struck down the rules under Section 17(2) of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, 1974, which allowed zoning changes based on individual applications. The court ruled that these approvals, often converting ecologically sensitive areas into settlement zones, disrupted Goa's Regional Plan 2021. Between March 2023 and January 2025, 353 such approvals impacted 26.5 lakh sq. meters of land. The ruling, following a PIL by environmental groups, limits private land conversions, with the Goa government now set to amend planning guidelines in compliance with the verdict.Read more

19 Mar 2025

The Uttar Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (UP-RERA) is contesting the National Company Law Tribunal's (NCLT) order admitting Ansal API into insolvency, filing an impleadment before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT). The move aims to ensure that the developer fulfills its obligations to homebuyers, who have long awaited possession or refunds. UP-RERA has recovered INR 125.39 crore for buyers but flagged INR 113 crore in pending dues and non-compliance with 1,234 orders. Similar interventions by MahaRERA and K-RERA highlight the growing role of regulators in holding developers accountable and protecting homebuyers' rights.Read more

19 Mar 2025

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has ordered the Dindigul district administration to address illegal sand mining in Thethupatti village pond within 12 weeks, following a PIL filed by Pandi Yogeswaran. Justices J Nisha Banu and S Srimathy emphasized public participation in the review process. Illegal sand mining is a nationwide issue, with Tamil Nadu recently facing a INR 5,832 crore scam. Across India, 418 deaths have been linked to illegal mining incidents. Courts and state authorities are intensifying efforts to regulate sand extraction, tackling environmental damage and the influence of organized sand mafias.Read more