Centre's reply on defence land sought

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sought the response of the Centre on a public interest writ petition seeking removal of encroachments in over 12,000 acres of defence land across the country.

A three-judge bench of Chief Justice J.S. Khehar and Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Sanjay Kishan Kaul issued notice on the petition filed by advocate S. N. Bhardwaj.

The Public Interest Litigation said over 12,000 acres of land is encroached and 46,000 buildings have been constructed on that government land illegally. Land mafia had successfully encroaching upon the military land. It was the duty of the military authorities to remove them immediately but they did not remove them over the years.