"Supreme Court Halts Indian Railways' Demolition Drive Near Krishna Janmabhoomi Amidst Legal Wrangle
In a significant development, the Supreme Court has intervened to halt the ongoing demolition drive by the Indian Railways in Nai Basti, a locality near Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. The Court's interim order comes in response to an urgent plea filed by 66-year-old resident Yakub Shah, who asserted that the demolition was affecting houses with a historical presence dating back to 1880.
According to Shah, the demolition work, initiated by the Railways on August 9, 2023, prompted a swift response from him. An interim plea against the demolition was promptly submitted before a civil court on August 10. Shah detailed that, despite the filing, the Railways' legal representation sought an adjournment, leading to a delay in addressing the matter.
Complicating the issue further, Shah highlighted that the scheduled hearing on August 14 was impeded due to the suspension of court activities, brought about by a resolution from the State Bar Council in the aftermath of an advocate's shooting incident between August 12-13.
During this court hiatus, the Railways resumed their demolition efforts on August 14, leaving Shah with no recourse but to seek immediate relief from the Supreme Court. Acknowledging the urgency, the Supreme Court has ordered a 10-day status quo to be maintained.
The Court is set to reconvene on this matter in the upcoming week. Shah was competently represented by Senior Advocate Prashanto Chandra Sen, alongside advocates Kaushik Chaudhry, Radha Tarkar, and Aaron Shaw.
This legal tussle stems from a much older 2005 lawsuit, where several residents initiated legal proceedings to permanently prevent the Railways from displacing them from the disputed land. Notably, this suit remains pending before a Mathura court.
Shah's writ petition contends that the residents have been residing in this area since 1880 and that their homes were targeted for demolition following a newspaper notification earlier this year. The Allahabad High Court directed the residents to submit a representation to the relevant authorities of the Northern Central Railway, Mathura, in response to the challenge. However, the Railways' Estate Officer swiftly dismissed this representation on May 22, a mere six-line decision, spurring the residents to seek further recourse.
While interim relief was initially withheld by the Mathura court, Shah and his fellow residents persist in seeking legal protection. Shah's plea to the Supreme Court, although representing only one resident, calls for safeguarding the rights of all residents who face displacement due to the proposed demolition. Shah's plea also indicates that numerous other victims of the impending demolition drive are ready to join the legal battle."
(Note: This rewritten version aims to maintain the essence of the original content while avoiding plagiarism.)
TAGS: Supreme Court Indian Railways Demolition Drive Krishna Janmabhoomi Mathura Nai Basti Urgent Plea Yakub Shah Historical Houses 1880 Civil Court Adjournment State Bar Council Suspension of Court Work Advocates Status Quo 10 Days Legal Proceedings Disputed Land Senior Advocate Prashanto Chandra Sen Interim Relief Allahabad High Court Representation Northern Central Railway Estate Officer Lawsuit Protection Displacement Newspaper Notification Residents Legal Battle.
