HC issues notices to Administration over demolition drives during winter

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday issued notices to the Chandigarh Administration over a petition seeking a policy for removing encroachments and directions to the Administration to refrain from carrying out demolition drives during winter.

The Mohali-based Revolutionary Youth Association had filed the petition that came up for hearing before a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain. The bench issued the notice for March 2.

The petitioners had sought directions to UT Administration that no demolition drives be carried out in the city and its periphery in harsh weather conditions and at least a six weeks notice should be given to all the residents informing them about their drives.

The petitioner submitted that demolition is a remedy of the last resort and before conducting the drives, residents should be engaged in meaningful conversation and dialogue so that relocation is a real possibility.

It was further submitted that on December 27, 2012, in extreme winter conditions over 100 policemen accompanied by enforcement staff suddenly initiated a demolition drive in Dhanas and following the razing of 125 kacha houses, 500 people were left homeless.

Similarly, on January 16, another 400 people including old men, women, new born babies were thrown out of their makeshift shelters in colony number 5 and 100 people were made homeless in Indra Colony demolition drive at Manimajra.

Estate office reclaims 10 acres of land

The UT estate and land acquisition offices held a demolition drive in Manimajra on Thursday and reclaimed 10 acres of land that had been encroached upon for over a decade. The land was handed over to the Municipal corporation.

During the drive, which began at 10 am and went on till about 3:30 pm, 40 jhuggies and 40 illegal structures were razed. Over 200 cops accompanied the officials of both the departments. Sources say that the land was acquired in 2004 for use by the civic body but authorities could not claim possession of the property due to the encroachments.

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