Bahraich violence: HC grants additional time to residents to file replies

PTC News Desk: In a significant development, residents facing demolition notices for illegal structures raised on the Kundasar-Mahasi-Nanpara-Maharajganj road in Bahraich, the Allahabad court has extended the time to file the replies by 15 days. 

The Lucknow bench including Justices A R Masoodi and Subhash Vidyarthi passed an order allowing the concerned persons to file their responses to the notices within 15 days and directed the state authorities to consider the said replies and a pass reasoned order on those. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for October 23 urging those who received notices to engage in the proceedings. 

The order was passed in response to a plea filed by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights. Clarification regarding the legality of the constructions along the road has also been sought. The notices were served under the Road Control Act, 1964.

After hearing the matter, the bench said, "Leaving all the aspects of the matter open, what pricks the conscious of this court is the issuance of notices to submit the reply within a short span of three days. As to what number of houses situated on kilometre-38 of the Kundasar-Mahasi-Nanpara-Maharajganj district road have been duly authorised for construction is also not much evident from the notices, which may require clarity." "Without observing anything on the merits at this stage, as already observed, we grant three days' time to the CSC to obtain complete instructions," it added.

"The position as to the category of the road and norms applicable may be clarified on the next date," the court said.

It said it is expected that those who have been served the notices will participate in the proceedings in the meantime.