The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) razed around 1800 structures labeled as "unauthorised constructions" in a 50-year-old Muslim-majority neighborhood Akbar Nagar for Kukrail riverfront project. Nearly 1320 structures, including houses and commercial establishments, were demolished between 10 to 18 June, 2024, displacing around 10,000 residents.
The demolition drive was carried out amid heavy security with the deployment of the UP Provincial Armed Constabulary and Rapid Action Force to prevent resistance.
In August 2022, the Uttar Pradesh government passed a proposal to build India’s first night safari in Kukrail forest and construct a riverfront plaza along the Kukrail Nala, including a jogging track, butterfly park, fishing facilities, rainwater harvesting systems, and a ghat for Chhat Puja festivities. The Central Zoo Authority approved the night safari and wildlife park project in April 2023 and in May 2023, CM Yogi Adityanath directed officials to look into the encroachment issue.
Residents of Akbar Nagar and Bhikampur received show-cause notices from the LDA in August and September 2023, under section 27 (pertaining to demolition by the LDA of structures built without permission and/or in contravention of the masterplan) of the UP Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973, citing "illegal constructions in flood zone." The residents were given 15 days to respond.
In October 2023, about 1,000 residents submitted detailed replies opposing the show cause notices, arguing that the properties predate the UP Urban Planning And Development Act, and that approvals were not required on plots measuring less than 800 square feet, which includes 85% of all plots in Akbar Nagar. The LDA rejected all the replies and the residents were not given the opportunity to argue their case.
Meanwhile, at least 250 residents of Akbar Nagar filed statutory appeals under section 27(2) of the law. Following the demolition drive on 6 and 7 December in Bhikampur, residents of Akbar Nagar approached the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on 8 December.
On 8 December, Justice Pankaj Bhatia directed Lucknow divisional commissioner and LDA chairman Roshan Jacob to hear and decide the matter and to refrain from continuing demolition work in Akbar Nagar while the appeals were pending. On 15 December, the divisional commissioner dismissed approximately 250 appeals stating that they were baseless. A week later, authorities started the demolition drive in Akbar Nagar. Residents approached the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad HC once again, challenging Divisional Commissioner's dismissal of their appeals. The court granted an interim stay on demolitions in Akbar Nagar for one month and posted the matter for hearing on 22 January 2024.
On 23 January 2024, the matter was transferred to a division bench, which dismissed the petitions of 24 commercial and commercial-cum-residential owners. And on 6 March 2024, directed residents to vacate their homes by 31 March.
The aggrieved residents filed an appeal before the Supreme Court the same month. On 10 May 2024, the apex court upheld the original High Court stay order and directed LDA to provide alternative housing, citing due process, rehabilitation and proportionality concerns for evicted residents. The SC asked the LDA to prove that the Kukrail Nala is a perennial river and not a city drain. Lawyers of the residents informed the court that a detailed report submitted to the LDA in 2013 by experts from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Roorkee referred to the Kukrail water body as a “nala” or drain throughout the document.
According to Lucknow Municipal Corporation [website](https://lmc.up.nic.in/pdf/Annexure 3.pdf), Akbar Nagar is identified as a slum. Hence, eviction from these slums should fall under the Uttar Pradesh Slum Areas (Improvement & Clearance) Act 1962 & Uttar Pradesh In-situ Slum Redevelopment Policy, 2021, after necessary rehabilitation.
In a rehabilitation effort, about 1,800 Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) houses were allotted to displaced families. However, residents say they cannot afford these houses as a 300 square feet flat in Vasant Kunj, 12 km from Akbar Nagar, cost Rs 4.8 lakh. Many argue this is not a rehabilitation policy but a sale as they have to pay a monthly instalment of Rs 2,200 for 10 years.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Complaint against procedural violations
Demand for rehabilitation
Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Urban
Type of Land
Common and Private
Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
Detention
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Released from detention
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
Don't Know
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project underway despite protests
Original Project Deadline
2026
Whether the Project has been Delayed
No
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Residential area, Commercial
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
No
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
1573
Type of investment:
Investment Expected
Year of Estimation
2023
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
Yes
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Non-consultation with stakeholders
Lack of legal protection over land rights
Forced evictions/dispossession of land
Non-rehabilitation of displaced people
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Disposed
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Supreme Court Of India
Case Number
SLP(C) No. 6531/2024
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Arrest/detention/imprisonment
Displacement
Financial harassment
Other harassment
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Yes
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Akbar Nagar, Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh
Kumar Sambhav is a social entrepreneur and award-winning journalist, leading innovative research in accountability investigations. He is the founder of Land Conflict Watch and is currently working as India Research Lead with Princeton University’s Digital Witness Lab.
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