Patna High Court on Friday directed the Nalanda and Kaimur district magistrates (DMs) to file affidavits in the case related to encroachment of forest land in both districts within four weeks.

The division bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice Anil Kumar Upadhyay passed the order while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by social activist Vikash Chandra alias Guddu Baba.

Guddu Baba, in his petition, had said that around 352 acres of forest land are being encroached upon in Kaimur district while another 1.36 hectares are encroached at Biharsharif in Nalanda district by the residents and land mafia.

The court was told that encroachments at most of these places started for agricultural purposes which eventually led to human hutments and cutting down of trees for fuel and fodder. The petitioner told the court that various laws have been enacted which give right to the state governments to evict encroachers, including the Indian Forest Act, 1927, Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. However, despite these laws, the land mafia have been successful in grabbing the forest land.

In its earlier hearing on July 3, the court had directed the state government to file a reply stating the exact area of forest land encroached in the state.

The officials of the forest department on Friday admitted before the court that large-scale encroachment exists at both the places. However, the official informed the bench that despite their earlier attempts to get the land freed, they felt helpless in doing so as their move was restricted owing to strong opposition by the encroachers who happen to be influential and powerful persons.

On this, the bench directed the Nalanda and Kaimur DMs to file an affidavit in the court within four weeks stating the steps taken so far to get the land freed and also what they intend to do in future to remove encroachment.