By October 19, 2025 – Nainital: The Uttarakhand High Court has delivered a significant ruling in favor of local villagers in a long-standing legal dispute over a public road passing through the Roorkee Cantonment area, dismissing a criminal petition filed by the Bengal Engineering Group (BEG) Center, Roorkee.
The controversy centers on a road used by the residents of Bhangeri village in Roorkee district, which the BEG Center had blocked by installing a gate. The road, recorded as Khasra No. 710 in the revenue records, has been classified as a “Gauhar Rasta”, meaning a public road. The villagers had sought to regain access, while the BEG Center argued that the land was part of A-1 defense property, reserved for military training, and thus civilian entry was restricted.
Court Observations and Ruling
A single bench of Justice Pankaj Purohit emphasized that restricting public movement on a revenue-recognized public road was unreasonable. The High Court noted that the disputed plot, covering 0.3590 hectares, had been officially classified as a public road under the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950, and its status had never been changed.
The BEG Center had challenged earlier orders issued by the Additional District and Sessions Judge of Haridwar (May 30, 2023) and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Roorkee (July 26, 2022), which directed the removal of the gate. The Center contended that a civil court had already dismissed the villagers’ land claim, and therefore, the SDM had no jurisdiction to reopen the matter under Section 133 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. They further argued that alternative routes had been provided for civilian use.
However, the High Court dismissed these arguments. The judgment clarified that the BEG Center failed to provide credible evidence of legal acquisition of the disputed land or any immediate security threat posed by public access. The court also pointed out that the earlier BEG suit related to a canal route, which had no connection to the current road dispute. Additionally, revenue records confirmed that the road stretch in question lay outside the 648.90 acres of officially acquired defense land, further supporting the villagers’ claim.
About the Bengal Engineering Group Center
The BEG Center, located in Roorkee, is a prominent training institution of the Indian Army, specializing in imparting combat and technical training to recruits and soldiers of the Bengal Engineer Group, a regiment within the Corps of Engineers. Over the years, the BEG Center has been involved in multiple legal proceedings to secure land for military training purposes, but this ruling highlights the limits of defense authority over public access routes recorded in government revenue documents.
Background of the Dispute
The road dispute had been a source of tension between local villagers and the Army establishment for years. The villagers argued that the blocked road was their primary access route and had been historically open for public use. The BEG Center, citing defense requirements, had erected a gate, effectively restricting movement.
Local authorities and the state government sided with the villagers, citing historical revenue records and legal provisions that protected the classification of Khasra No. 710 as a public road.
Significance of the Judgment
The High Court’s ruling reinforces the principle that public roads recognized in official records cannot be arbitrarily closed, even within cantonment or defense areas, unless credible evidence of acquisition or immediate security concerns is provided. By dismissing the BEG Center’s petition, the court has affirmed villagers’ rights to unimpeded access and clarified the limits of military authority over certain types of land.
The judgment also distinguishes between civilian rights and military requirements, ensuring that defense establishments cannot override revenue-classified public routes without proper legal procedures.
Implications for the Roorkee Community
For residents of Bhangeri village and nearby areas, the ruling ensures continued access to a crucial road, which is vital for daily commuting, transportation, and local commerce. The decision may also set a precedent for similar disputes in other cantonment towns across India, balancing defense security with public rights of way.
Local leaders have welcomed the verdict, emphasizing the importance of transparent land classification records and accountability of defense establishments in civil matters.
Conclusion
The Uttarakhand High Court’s judgment is a win for villagers in Roorkee, asserting that historical revenue classifications, such as Gauhar Rasta, take precedence over arbitrary closures by institutions, including the military. The BEG Center’s appeal has been dismissed, and the villagers can now freely use the road, reinforcing legal protections for public access even in sensitive cantonment areas.
This ruling underscores the judiciary’s role in balancing national security interests with citizens’ rights, ensuring that defense establishments comply with the law when managing land that intersects with public use.
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