The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has mandated the removal of all remaining illegal encroachments from the district and sessions court premises within five weeks. The court emphasized strict adherence to safety protocols and administrative coordination.

  • The Allahabad High Court bench set a 5-week deadline for clearing encroachments.
  • The drive targets the district and sessions court premises and surrounding areas.
  • Strict safeguards from previous court orders must be followed.
  • Police and District Administration are tasked with providing support to Municipal authorities.

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has issued a decisive order directing authorities to clear all remaining illegal encroachments from the Lucknow district and sessions court premises and its surrounding areas within a period of five weeks. A division bench comprising Justices Rajesh Singh Chauhan and Rajeev Bharti passed the order on Friday during the hearing of two petitions regarding encroachments in public spaces and court premises.

Progress of the Demolition Drive

During the proceedings, the court noted the progress made so far, stating that 14 illegal structures were removed following initial directions, and an additional 57 encroachments have been cleared. The Lucknow Municipal Corporation’s Zone-1 zonal officer submitted a report on September 8, accompanied by photographic evidence of the cleared structures. However, the bench observed that the exercise remains incomplete and must be concluded strictly as per the court's previous mandates.

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Safeguards and Due Process

Crucially, the court directed officials to strictly adhere to the safeguards established in its August 4 order. Under these guidelines, the remaining 72 encroachers are to be provided a final opportunity to either vacate their chambers or shops or present a legal basis for their possession before the competent authority. Failure to comply will grant authorities the power to demolish the illegal structures.

To ensure that judicial proceedings are not disrupted, the court has permitted the demolition drive to be conducted on Sundays.

Administrative Coordination

To ensure a seamless operation, the bench has directed the Police Commissioner, District Magistrate, and Municipal Commissioner to coordinate closely. They are required to provide adequate administrative and police support to the municipal authorities during the enforcement drive. Furthermore, if individual notices cannot be served, they must be published in one Hindi and one English newspaper, allowing affected persons a 10-day window to respond.

Historical Context of Encroachments

The issue of encroachment around judicial complexes in major cities like Lucknow has long been a point of contention, often leading to congestion and interference with the movement of legal professionals and litigants. This latest judicial intervention aims to restore the sanctity and accessibility of the court's physical infrastructure.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that this order serves as a significant precedent for urban management and the enforcement of rule of law in high-priority public zones, ensuring that administrative delays do not undermine judicial mandates.

Did You Know?: Legal authorities often schedule sensitive demolition drives on Sundays to minimize the impact on daily public life and official working hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the deadline set by the High Court for the removal of encroachments?
The court has ordered the authorities to complete the removal within five weeks.

2. What happens if an encroacher cannot be reached via direct notice?
In such cases, notices must be published in both a Hindi and an English newspaper to ensure public transparency.