The Hapur district administration has withdrawn eviction notices that were recently served to 41 Dalit families residing in Indra Nagar near Syana Choraha, following public outcry and media attention. Officials confirmed the move on Friday (April 18), The Indian Express reported.

The families, many of whom have lived in the area since being relocated by Ghaziabad authorities in 1986, had received legal notices declaring their homes to be “illegally” constructed on government land, allegedly a former pond. Of the 41 homes, residents said 40 were constructed under the Central government’s flagship Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) since 2019, with each family receiving Rs 2.5 lakh in three installments to build their houses.

Chief Development Officer Himanshu Gautam confirmed the withdrawal of the notices to the newspaper, stating, “We have taken the cognizance of the news report and have withdrawn all the 41 notices. The residents had shown us copies of what they said was a land deed issued to them in 1986. This is a matter of inquiry.”

A high-powered committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Additional District Magistrate of Hapur, along with the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and Executive Officer of Garhmukteshwar. The committee is expected to submit its report within two weeks.

The eviction notices, dated April 8 and issued on behalf of the Executive Officer of the Garhmukteshwar Municipal Council, accused the families of illegally occupying land owned by the Nagar Palika, The Indian Express had earlier reported.

The document alleged that despite repeated verbal warnings, the residents had refused to vacate, and further claimed that any existing land records in their names had been “cancelled.”

However, residents maintain that they were officially relocated to Indra Nagar nearly four decades ago from the Chupla locality in Garhmukteshwar, which was then part of Ghaziabad district. They have preserved documents from the 1986 relocation, including an official notice dated July 18 of that year.

Despite the administration’s statement, local residents said on Friday that they had not been officially informed of the withdrawal.

“No one has told us anything. We were earlier told to hire a lawyer and fight the case in the court,” said Kuldeep Singh, 38, a resident.

The development underscores the tensions between long-term residents and municipal authorities over land rights and official documentation, especially when Central schemes like PMAY are involved.

The findings of the district committee’s inquiry are expected to play a crucial role in determining the legal status of the settlement.