The residents of Silor village in Rajasthan's Bundi district have locked horns with the administration of the Adishwar Jain temple over access to a common road. According to the Silor Village Assembly, the temple administration is trying to construct a boundary wall along its premises, which will block a common pathway leading to the government school and the Charbhuja Nath temple in the village. Kusumlata Kushwah, the sarpanch of Silor Village Assembly, told Land Conflict Watch that the dispute started in 2011 when the temple board first wanted to build a wall. She claimed that the land for the common path belongs to the Village Assembly and not the temple administration. Kushwah said that the residents and the temple administration had then reached a consensus that no wall would be built as it would cause inconvenience to thousands of people. According to her, nearly 4,000 villagers will be affected if the boundary wall is constructed as they will have to take a longer route to reach the government school and the Charbhuja Nath temple. The villagers allege that the temple authorities went back on their word and in March 2019 pitched tents and constructed the boundary wall, blocking the road. On March 6, the villagers had a faceoff with the temple authorities. They got into an altercation and pelted stones at each other, in which six persons were injured. Later, a cross FIR was registered by both the parties at the Sadar police station. Sadar police incharge Amar Singh told Land Conflict Watch that the villagers had demolished the boundary wall and pelted stones, following which the Jain community in the village lodged an FIR with the police. A case was registered against eight people. The villagers also filed an FIR against the temple administration for stone pelting. Police had to deploy additional force in the area to avoid communal clashes. Later, senior police officials tried to defuse the tension by holding talks with both the sides to reach an agreement. According to tehsildar Bharat Singh Rathore, the district administration has directed both the parties to maintain status quo on the common path.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for better access to common land/resources, Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common
Type of Common Land
Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Other
Legislations/Policies Involved
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:
Lack of legal protection over land rights
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Physical attack
Whether criminal law was used against protestors
Yes
Official name of the criminal law. Did the case reach trial?
Reported Details of the Violation:
On March 6, 2019, the villagers and the temple administration had a dispute over the construction of a boundary wall along the temple's premises. The next morning, both the parties got into an altercation and pelted stones at each other. Six people sustained injuries in the stone pelting.
Date of Violation
March 7, 2019
Location of Violation
Nature of Protest
Stone pelting
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Rajasthan Government
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Yes
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
N/A
Name, Designation and Comment of Corporate Authorities Approached
Other Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Local villagers
Documented By
Ashish GaurReviewed By
Ashish GaurUpdated By
Ashish GaurEdited By
Ashish GaurLand Conflict Watch
