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Many times such serious questions are raised on the working style of Indian democracy and administrative system, which shock not only the common man but also the representatives of the ruling party of the country. A very shocking case that exposes administrative insensitivity has come to light from Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh. 86-year-old senior leader Harpal Singh, who has been a three-time MLA on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket in the state and has held the responsibility of former district president of the party, is today being forced to make rounds of government offices and wander from door to door to get legal and valid compensation for his own acquired land. There is no official ready to take care of this elderly leader, who has gained fame as a ‘democracy fighter’ due to his hard struggle during the Emergency, and he is forced to return empty handed every time with only empty assurances from the government offices.
This entire administrative dispute is related to the land acquisition for the THDC power plant being set up in Arnia area of Bulandshahr district. Despite the court ruling in favor of the former MLA after going through a long process of rules and legal battles, the delay in getting him his due has exposed the system. Now even at the age of 86, the former MLA, who is fighting for justice, has clearly said that if he does not get his due compensation soon, he will go straight to Lucknow and meet Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, because now he has full faith in the working style of the Chief Minister more than the administrative officials.
If we look at the detailed background of this entire episode, 1.4243 hectares of fertile land of former MLA Harpal Singh was located in Javal village of Bulandshahr, which was acquired by the government during the year 2019-20 for the power plant project being built in the area by THDC. The former MLA’s argument from the very beginning was that his land was adjacent to the main link road, due to which its market value should have been much higher, but during the circle rate and evaluation, the local administration fixed the compensation for his land at very normal and low level rates.
The administration gave him land compensation at the rate of Rs 2000 per square meter, whereas according to him, the actual rate of his prime location land should have been at least Rs 2600 per square meter. Raising his voice against this huge financial difference in valuation and the alleged injustice done to him, Harpal Singh decided to fight a legal battle. In this connection, he had filed his formal appeal in the ‘Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Authority Court’ in March 2021, after which the matter was under legal consideration.
After a long legal argument and examination of documents, finally on 14 October 2026, the Authority Court gave its historic verdict in favor of former MLA Harpal Singh and upheld his arguments. According to this decision of the court, it was now the responsibility of the administration to immediately issue them revised and fair compensation for their land. According to the former MLA, based on this court decision, he is to be paid an additional compensation amount of about Rs 85 lakh for the THDC power plant project, but even after months, this huge amount has not reached his accounts.
When the money was not paid despite the court order in hand, the 86-year-old former MLA himself started knocking on the doors of administrative officials. Recently he personally met Bulandshahr ADM (Finance and Revenue) Abhishek Kumar Singh and strongly demanded to ensure payment of his outstanding compensation as soon as possible. While talking to the media, Harpal Singh bluntly said that he would not let this matter drag on any longer, and if the administration did not give him his due soon, he would head straight for Lucknow.
It is noteworthy that Harpal Singh is a very respected and well-known name in the political and social background of Bulandshahr. He reached the Uttar Pradesh Assembly by winning from the important Khurja assembly seat of Bulandshahr in the years 1991, 1993 and for the third consecutive time in 1996 on Bharatiya Janata Party ticket with huge votes. Apart from this, in view of his loyalty towards the organization, the party had also entrusted him with the responsibility of the post of President of Bulandshahr district. Harpal Singh, who faced the tortures of jail during the dark days of the country i.e. during the Emergency, is still known as a respected democracy fighter.
Despite his political and social prestige, an elderly former MLA is facing such a plight to get compensation for his own property, which raises serious questions on the functioning of the local administration. Responding to this matter, ADM Finance Abhishek Kumar Singh has said that the District Administration has received the order of the Authority Court related to the land acquisition case of the former MLA, in which the decision has been given in his favor and a demand has been made to release additional amount along with the original amount. The administration claims that the entire additional amount for land acquisition will be paid soon after completing the formalities, but it remains to be seen how long this administrative assurance will be implemented.