The Orissa High Court has directed the state government to expedite the removal of encroachments on government land in a village in Jajpur district.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Murahari Sri Raman disposed of a writ petition filed by a group of villagers, issuing the directive in its order.

The petitioners had alleged that government authorities were failing to take adequate measures to remove encroachments from government land and other areas intended for common village use.

Counsel for the state informed the HC that upon learning of the encroachments as reported by the petitioners, the authorities had initiated steps and issued directions for an investigation to ensure that the land was made encroachment-free.

“Our attention is further drawn to

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