The High Court today wanted to know why the government did not form the Land Survey Appellate Tribunal in the last 15 years after formation of law to this effect.

According to the State Acquisition and Tenancy (Amendment) Act, 2004, the government is supposed to form the Land Survey Appellate Tribunal headed by an HC judge in order to hear and dispose of the appeals arising out of the judgment, decree or order of the Land Survey Tribunals.

The HC ordered the secretaries to the ministries of land and law to inform the reasons, behind not formation of the Land Survey Appellate Tribunal in the last 15 years, in written to this court in six weeks.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman came up with the order during hearing a writ petition filed by 59 people including Md Shah Alam from Chandpur challenging a judgement delivered by Land Survey Tribunal in Chandpur.  

Petitioners’ lawyer Advocate Md Rafiqul Islam Faruque told The Daily Star that the Land Survey Tribunal in Chandpur on July 30 this year delivered a verdict in the land-related case which went against his clients’ favour.

The Land Survey Tribunal in Chandpur has ordered for giving only two decimal land of total 15 decimal land at Shaisharchar area under Faridganj Police Station in Chandpur to the writ petitioners.

Being aggrieved of the tribunal verdict, the writ petitioners filed a writ petition with the HC challenging the tribunal verdict.

The HC stayed the verdict given by the Land Survey Tribunal in Chandpur for six months and also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why the tribunal’s verdict should not be scrapped, he added.