Srinagar, April 23 -- The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has set aside an eviction order issued by the Badami Bagh Cantonment Board against four local residents living in the area since 1950, ruling that the authorities can not resort to the summary eviction mechanism under the 1971 Act.

Holding that summary proceedings under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971, cannot be invoked where a bona-fide dispute over land title exists, Justice M. A. Chowdhary delivered the judgment in favour of the petitioners Ghulam Nabi Bhat and his three brothers, residents of Sonawar, falling within the jurisdiction of the Cantonment Board, a local body under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.

The affected persons ha...