Partition-hit family’s 77-year battle lingers, court team arrives at Patiala DC office to attach property

Decades after the India-Pakistan Partition, the resulting wounds still remain fresh for many victims and some are still scrambling for their due. A Patiala family’s 77-year-old legal battle is a case in point.

The family fought the case from lower courts to the Supreme Court to reclaim their land sold by the government after the Partition. The court had ordered the Patiala administration to either return the land or provide financial compensation to the family. However, due to its non-compliance, a court team arrived at the DC office, Commissioner’s office, SDM office and Tehsil office on Thursday to seize air conditioners, fans, chairs, tables, water coolers and cupboards.

Officials of the DC office record branch initially directed the team and petitioners to Block D that houses condemned items. However, the court team refused to attach those items.

Police officers, who were then called to mediate, left after reviewing the court orders. ADC Isha Singhal then discussed the matter with the team and petitioners, and finally the administration was granted time till Monday.

Petitioner Kamal Ahmad said his family member, Kaneez Fatima, lived in Patiala’s Jhil village before 1947. After Partition, the family left for Malerkotla district. Upon its return to the village after the conditions improved, Fatima discovered the government had sold her land. Her elders filed a legal appeal.

Fatima passed away in 2008. The lower court ruled in the family’s favour in 2014. The administration appealed to the High Court, which upheld the lower court’s decision. The case then proceeded to the Supreme Court, which ruled in their favour in 2023, directing the district administration to return equivalent land or compensate them at the current market rate.

Four months ago, the lower court ordered the attachment of the DC’s and DDP’s (District Development and Panchayat Officer) vehicles. It also ordered the attachment of air conditioners, fans, chairs, tables, water coolers and cupboards from the DC office, Commissioner’s office, SDM office and Tehsil office.

Acting on these orders, the court team arrived at the DC office on Thursday to execute the seizure.

Patiala