RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Aug.9: The demolition cloud looming large over the houses of Bandhu Nagar in Hinoo got cleared for the time being as the Jharkhand High Court quashed the demolition notice of Ranchi Municipal Corporation.
Justice Rajesh Shankar passed the order today after he realised that the affected house owners were not given any opportunity to make an appeal against the demolition notice published through newspapers. He directed the municipal commissioner to take a decision after considering the applications of the house owners on September 2.
Earlier, advocate Devarshi Mandal appearing on behalf of people facing demolition threats submitted that the civic body did not issue notice to any individual but citing the non-availability of a building plan as the reason published the demolition notice in newspapers.
“The affected persons on the basis of a newspaper notice knocked the door of the municipal commissioner but latter did not listen to them and passed the demolition order,” Mandal submitted.
This is the second time within three days, the high court has cleared the demolition cloud in the city for the time being.
Earlier on August 5, Jharkhand High Court stayed demolition notices issued by the Ranchi Municipal Corporation to owners of the buildings constructed without an approved plan. With that order, demolition clouds looming large on the 62-year-old private hospital Nagar Mal Seva Sadan and other buildings of the biggest marketing hub of the state, Upper Bazaar, got cleared.
That development took place while the high court was hearing a PIL demanding proper traffic arrangement and encroachment-free roads in the city.
A division bench comprising Justice Dr Ravi Ranjan and Justice Sujeet Narayan Prasad passed the order saying there should be no demolition till the constitution of the appellate tribunal to hear the matter related to building plans.
