Ranchi: The Jharkhand high court on Friday clamped a stay on the ongoing demolition of houses in Madhukam under Sukhdevnagar police station in the state capital. The court of Justice Rajesh Shankar, while hearing a petition filed by Rounak Kumar and others who are inhabitants of Madhukam, ordered the town circle officer not to take any action till the matter is sub judice before the HC.The district administration started an anti-encroachment drive and demolished several structures built on govt and municipal lands in the city.
In the course of the drive, the district administration pressed into service bulldozers to bring down houses in Madhukam on Ratu Road. As many as 12 houses were marked for demolition, which was challenged before the high court. The houses were already partially demolished.The petitioners pleaded before the court that the land was purchased by them, which was duly registered in the registry office. Land was purchased at the rate of Rs 5.25 lakhs per kattha by the inhabitants, after which they constructed their houses.The court was also told that the measurement done by the administration was not proper, and opportunity was not given to the inhabitants to explain the documents of their respective lands.The court, while clamping a stay on further demolition, directed the circle officer not to put pressure on inhabitants of the area till the matter was pending before the HC. The court also queried the circle officer to inform whether proper notice was given to the inhabitants of Madhukam before embarking on the demolition drive of their houses. The case will again be heard on Feb 27.
