New Delhi. The Supreme Court on Thursday extended till further orders the status quo directive by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) regarding operation of bulldozers on encroachers in Jahangirpuri. Justice L. Nageswara Rao and Justice B.R. Gavai said the demolition carried out by the authorities would be seriously considered after the NDMC Mayor was informed about the apex court’s order on Wednesday.
The bench said that it will take up the matter later.
The top court also issued notice on petitions filed by Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind and others against the demolition drive carried out in Jahangirpuri.
The top court has fixed the next hearing of the matter after two weeks.
Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, representing Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind in the case against Jahangirpuri demolition drive, said the NDMC mayor told the media that the apex court’s order would be followed at 11 am, but the demolition drive continued.
During the hearing, when a senior lawyer argued that the court should stay the demolition till further orders, the top court said it cannot stop the demolition across the country.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, said that encroachment is a serious problem across India but it is not right to associate the Muslim community with encroachment.
He said similar incidents are happening in other states also and when processions are taken out and there is a fight, the houses of the same community are bulldozed.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that the drive to remove encroachment from the footpath in Jahangirpuri started from January 19. February was carried out in March and April 19 was the fifth date of the campaign.
Mehta said that notices were served on illegal structures.
He said people moved the Delhi High Court last year and the court had ordered the demolition.
Mehta said the affected people did not approach the court, but an organization instead approached the court.
After a detailed hearing in the matter, the top court said it wants affidavits on notice from the petitioners, and till then the status quo order will continue.
On Wednesday, Dave asked Chief Justice N.V. The matter was mentioned before a bench headed by Ramana and the bench ordered status quo to be maintained on the demolition drive.
—AnyTV News
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