Land minister, secretary violating human rights by not forming land survey appellate tribunal: HC

The High Court has come down hard on the land ministry for not constituting the 'Land Survey Appellate Tribunal (LSAT)' although a law has been formulated in this regard in 2004.

In the recently released full text verdict, the HC observed that the minister and secretary of the ministry have conducted "inhuman, cruel and unpardonable acts" by not appointing a judge for the LSAT yet.

The land minister has deprived the people of the tribunal therefore violating their human rights, the HC bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal said in the full text of the verdict.

The bench directed the land ministry to set up the LSAT under the State Acquisition and Tenancy (Amendment) Act, 2004 and ordered the land secretary to submit a report to this court after complying with the directives within 90 days of receiving the verdict.

The HC bench had delivered a short verdict on this issue on July 25 last year following a suo moto (voluntary) ruled issued on March 3, 2015.

The full verdict was released recently after the judges signed it.

According to the State Acquisition and Tenancy (Amendment) Act, 2004, the government is supposed to form the LSAT headed by an HC judge in order to hear and dispose of appeals arising out of the judgment, decree or order of land survey tribunals.