PRAYAGRAJ, May 10 -- : The Allahabad high court has reiterated that proceedings under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 are not maintainable against illegal encroachment on gram sabha land.

The same can be decided under Section 67 of the Revenue Code, 2006 in proceedings for eviction, the court has held.

Quashing proceedings under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 against the applicant Brahmdutt Yadav, Justice Saurabh Srivastava relied on the earlier decision of his coordinate bench in the Munshi Lal and another vs State of Uttar Pradesh and another case. In that case, it was held that "as far as criminal proceeding for illegal encroachment, damage or trespass over the land belonging to gram sabha...