Ranchi, Sep 18 (PTI) The Jharkhand High Court on Friday directed the Ranchi district administration to halt its ongoing anti-encroachment drive in the Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC) area of the state capital till December 31.
A bench headed by Justice Ananda Sen, while hearing a petition filed by residents facing eviction, directed Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri and Senior Superintendent of Police Rakesh Ranjan to take no coercive action against the settlers until December 31.
The court, however, directed the settlers to remove the encroachments themselves within the stipulated period.
The bench observed that in view of the upcoming festive season, immediate administrative action should be deferred.
Following the court’s direction, the anti-encroachment drive along HEC Bypass Road has been suspended.
The district administration launched the operation on Tuesday to remove alleged illegal constructions from land belonging to HEC and the Railways.
A team of officials, accompanied by police personnel and magistrates, had been carrying out demolition and eviction proceedings in the area.
The drive triggered protests by locals whose houses and establishments fell within the area identified for clearance.
The protesters alleged that the eviction process had been initiated without adequate rehabilitation arrangements.
During the hearing, the petitioners’ counsel urged the court to restrain the administration from proceeding with the eviction and sought additional time for the residents to remove the structures.
The case relates to alleged encroachments on government land along HEC Bypass Road, where the district administration had recently begun a clearance operation. PTI CORR NAM MNB
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