Demolition Drive Sparks Strong Protest
Advocates stage a protest against the demolition of their chambers by LMC following Allahabad High Court order to remove encroachments near district court in Kaiserbagh, Lucknow, on Sunday
Lucknow: Lawyers climbed onto a bulldozer and lay in front of its wheels to stop a demolition drive outside Lucknow district court on Sunday as the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) razed around 100 unauthorised chambers and other structures.Several women lawyers broke down during the action near the court and the Kaiserbagh bus depot. The protest began with lawyers sitting on the road on sacks and later raising slogans against the demolition. As tensions escalated, some lawyers climbed onto a bulldozer involved in the drive and lay in front of its wheels. Police officials tried to pacify the protesters while civic teams continued the operation.The LMC deployed heavy machinery, including JCBs and dumpers, to demolish the structures and clear the debris. Officials said the demolition was being carried out in compliance with a high court order. Lawyers had approached the HC against the civic body’s action, but officials said their appeal was dismissed.The drive was initially scheduled for Oct 11 but was postponed after the LMC received 14 objections to notices issued to those concerned and the matter went to court. Officials said the objections had been addressed before the demolition resumed.The action follows a survey conducted last year under a public interest litigation before the HC. The survey identified 241 unauthorised chambers along roads near the old high court premises, district and sessions’ court, registry office and district magistrate’s office in Kaiserbagh. In two phases between May and Aug, the LMC and police jointly demolished 72 chambers on Aug 30.LMC zonal officer Om Prakash Singh said the HC ordered the removal of unauthorised chambers along the road from the civil court to Balrampur Hospital on Residency Road. He said the civic body was removing illegal structures built over drains, footpaths and roads outside the court premises. He added that notices had been issued to the people concerned.
