The Allahabad High Court recently criticized revenue officials in Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh, for illegally locking private shops amid allegations of encroachment on pond land. Justice Jaspreet Singh ordered the tehsildar, revenue inspector, and lekhpal to pay ₹11,000 each to the affected shop owners, stating that their actions violated the rule of law and lacked any legal sanction. The court highlighted that while revenue authorities may have judicial powers, they do not possess the authority to confiscate private property. The officials had previously claimed they acted under a 'bona fide impression' to prevent misuse of the property and apologized to the court. However, the court maintained that any encroachments must be handled according to established legal procedures, rejecting arbitrary actions by authorities. The court mandated that the fines be deducted from the officials' salaries and proof of payment be submitted to the court.