The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has directed the parties to maintain status quo over a disputed parcel of land linked to Methodist Mission Girls Junior High School, Civil Lines, Sitapur, while hearing an urgent plea alleging a threat of demolition.
The Bench also ordered that the State should not alter the nature of the portion of land already taken into possession until the next hearing.
Background of the Case
The petitioners told the Court that the educational institution has existed on the land for nearly 150 years. They argued that the 3.562-hectare property was purchased in 1862 by their predecessors and was wrongly recorded as Nazul land in government records. According to them, the urgency arose because of an imminent threat to the institution standing on the disputed land.
The State, however, submitted that the District Magistrate's order dated 24 June 2026 did not concern the area where the school and church function. It maintained that only other portions of the land had been reclaimed and that possession of part of the property had already been taken by the Nagar Palika Parishad in July 2024.
The Bench noted that a civil suit concerning part of the disputed property has been pending since 2017, but this fact was not disclosed in the writ petition. Petitioners' counsel explained that the omission occurred because the petition had been prepared and filed urgently.
Observing the existing circumstances, the Bench stated,
"The parties shall maintain status quo over the said land till the next date of listing."
A Division Bench of Justice Alok Mathur and Justice Amitabh Kumar Rai listed the matter for 20 July 2026 and directed that the State authorities shall not change the nature of the disputed land already in their possession until the next hearing.
The Court also directed the Chief Standing Counsel's office to immediately communicate the order to the concerned authorities.
Case Details
Case Title: Methodist Mission Girls Junior High School Civil Lines Sitapur and Another v. State of U.P.
Case Number: Writ-C No. 7284 of 2026
Judges: Justice Alok Mathur and Justice Amitabh Kumar Rai
Decision Date: 12 July 2026
