Haldwani Protest: SC To Hear Plea Against HC Order Today As Future Of Thousands Hangs In Balance — Top Points

The apex court will hear a plea challenging the Uttarakhand High Court's order directing the removal of encroachments from 29 acres of railway land in Haldwani. 

Haldwani Protest: SC to hear plea today

Source : PTI

The Supreme Court will today hear a plea challenging the Uttarakhand High Court's order directing the removal of encroachments from 29 acres of railway land in Haldwani. 

Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan will represent the petitioners in the apex court. The court will decide the fate of around 50,000 people whose future remains uncertain after the Uttarakhand High Court ordered the removal of encroachments from 29 acres of railway land in the town's Banbhoolpura area.

Top Points

• Almost 4,000 families fear homelessness as the Haldwani Administration readies for the eviction drive for encroachment of railway land in the Banbhoolpura area of the town, following an order by the Nainital High Court.
• The demarcation work and joint survey were completed jointly by the local administration, police, and railway department.
• The residents of the Banbhoolpura area have been protesting against the removal of encroachments, saying it will render them homeless and jeopardise the future of their school-going children. 
• Led by Congress MLA from Haldwani, Sumit Hridayesh, residents of the area approached the Supreme Court challenging the high court's order, which will be represented by Congress senior leader Salman Khurshid.
• A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices S A Nazeer and P S  Narasimha posted the matter for hearing after advocate Prashant Bhushan mentioned the matter.
• Bhushan submitted that the case -- of more than 5,000 houses in Haldwani being demolished -- is similar to the matter scheduled to be heard on Thursday.
• However, the administration has begun preparation to remove the encroachment and a heavy force will reach Haldwani by January 8, after which the action is likely to be taken.
• The Congress also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to take a humane view of the issue as the removal of encroachments from the land will render 4,500 people homeless.
• Kumaon Range Inspector General Nilesh Anand Bharne told ABP News that 14 companies of PAC including 5 companies of RAF have been requested.  
• A demand has been made for 1,000 female and male constables from the Garhwal range and a large number of home guards, police officers, and employees of the Kumaon range have also been called, he added.
• Along with this, the administration has been asked to make available other important essential things including the goods of JCB Pokeland and barricading for the removal of encroachment.
• An extra unit of the Local Intelligence Unit has been called. Along with this, any kind of provocative and violent posts are being monitored on social media.