Patna High Court on Friday ordered all district and sessions judges to decide all land title suits filed in the district courts within one month so that encroachment at hospitals across the state can be cleared.

A division bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice Sudhir Singh passed the order on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by activist Vikash Chandra, better known as Guddu Baba. The activist had alleged large-scale encroachments at all hospitals - sadar hospitals, primary health centres and additional primary health centres - in Bihar. Chandra filed the PIL based on information received through a right to information query.

"It has been pointed out that title suits and writ applications claiming possession of alleged public property has been filed in many districts," the court said in its order. "In view of the fact that many cases have been instituted before the civil court, we direct the learned district and sessions judges of the respective districts to ensure that such cases are finally decided within one month, so as to facilitate removal of encroachment on the public land. The information is to be circulated to all the district and sessions judges to take action in respect of the cases falling within their jurisdiction."

Principal additional advocate general Lalit Kishore has submitted before the court that 28 encroachment proceedings have been initiated in 19 districts and would be concluded within two months.

In the supplementary counter affidavit it filed on January 9 this year, the state government had said that three of those districts have been made encroachment-free and encroachment removal was on in the other districts.

The court had earlier appointed senior advocate Rajeev Kumar Singh as amicus curiae (an impartial adviser to a court in a particular case).

The court had on August 2 last year summoned the district magistrates, superintendents of police and civil surgeons of all Bihar districts, directing them to appear in the court and clear their stand on the issue.

Later, on the state government's request, the court dispensed with its order of summoning the officials.

Kishore, appearing on behalf of the state, had assured the court that soon all encroachments would be removed from every hospital in the state. He had also told the court that cases would be lodged against those encroaching on hospital land.