New Delhi (ILNS): The Allahabad High Court on Monday stayed the demolition of the house of Uttar Pradesh MLA Vijay Mishra. The MLA had filed a writ petition with the court, challenging the demolition and saying that the demolition started 15 minutes after the court order on November 5, without giving him a reasonable opportunity to contest it.
The court has asked the state authorities to file a counter affidavit within two weeks. The complainant has alleged that the authorities are behaving in a high-handed manner.
The court has also directed the respondents to specifically disclose as to why a reasonable opportunity of the contest was denied to the petitioners.
The court order said: “Till then, no further demolition shall be carried out by the authorities concerned. It will be open for the petitioners to remove their belongings from the house in question.”
The matter is listed for next hearing on December 2.
This order has been given by Justice Ashwini Kumar Mishra on the petition of Indrakali and others.
The petitioner advocate Lokesh Kumar Dwivedi said that demolition was ordered on November 5, 2020. The demolition operation commenced within 15 minutes. It was also stated that the houses are in the names of both the petitioners but the Prayagraj Development Authority had given notice to only one.
Also Read: Arnab Goswami case: How urgent listings in court raise the hackles of some
It was contended that that sanction was obtained from the development authority for construction by the previous owners on February 3, 1980 and the petitioners also removed such construction that were in excess or contrary to the blueprint. The MLA claims that those prayers were ignored.
-India Legal Bureau