How to Report Encroachment on Your Plot in India: Complete Guide

Step 1: Document Everything First

Before filing any complaint, collect:

• GPS-tagged photos of the encroachment with date stamps
• Video walkthrough showing the exact boundary violation
• Your original sale deed and registry documents
• EC copy showing your ownership
• Survey/map clearly showing boundaries

This documentation is the foundation of your case. Without it, your complaint is your word against theirs.

Step 2: Approach the Local Police Station

File an FIR at the police station with jurisdiction over the plot location. Cite:

• Section 441 IPC (Criminal Trespass)
• Section 447 IPC (Punishment for Criminal Trespass)
• If involving forgery: Section 420, 467, 468 IPC

Take a lawyer with you if possible. Insist on a proper FIR, not just a "complaint noted."

Step 3: File a Complaint with the Revenue Authority

The Tehsildar (revenue officer) has jurisdiction over land disputes. A complaint here can initiate an official survey that legally establishes boundaries.

Step 4: Civil Court for Injunction

If the encroacher has already built something, file a civil suit for:

• Mandatory injunction (remove the construction)
• Permanent injunction (prevent further encroachment)
• Damages (compensation for loss)

An ad-interim stay can often be obtained within days, which prevents further construction while the case is heard.

Step 5: District Magistrate / Collector

For serious or organised encroachment, the District Magistrate's office can intervene more forcefully than a civil court in many cases.

Why Evidence Makes All the Difference

Courts take property disputes seriously when there's documented, GPS-stamped evidence with clear timestamps. A case with PlotPolice GPS video reports vs. a case with verbal testimony — the outcomes are dramatically different.