Jahangirpuri Demolition A Routine Exercise, Says Civic Body. SC To Hear Matter On Thursday | Top Developments

Jahangirpuri demolition drive: During the action against encroachment in the Jahangirpuri area, more than 12 illegal shops were vandalized in front of the mosque present.

Paramilitary Force and police personnel at the violence-hit Jahangirpuri area. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: Amid the encroachment being carried out by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) in Jahangirpuri, the Supreme Court will hear the petition on Thursday while the civic body termed it a routine exercise in which around a two-kilometer stretch was cleared from encroachments.

The action against the encroachment being carried out by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) in the Jahangirpuri area was stopped after 12.30 pm on Wednesday. Following an order of the Supreme Court, the NDMC has stopped the action against encroachment in Jahangirpuri area, as there has been an order from the court to maintain the status quo. 

"About two kilometres of road near Kushal cinema were cleared from encroachment. As many as 25 items were seized and 20 tonnes of garbage was lifted. The encroachment was removed by the licensing department, engineering department, enforcement cell and health department of Civil Lines as a joint team," the civic body said in the statement.

On the other hand, Delhi Police's Special Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, Deependra Pathak says that the anti-encroachment operation has been stopped in Jahangirpuri area. At the same time, a large number of Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed to deal with any situation.

During the action against encroachment in Jahangirpuri area, more than 12 illegal shops were vandalized in front of the mosque present. Meanwhile, some people also pelted stones near the temple at some distance.

"Two encroachment drives were conducted in Jahangirpuri on February 2 and 17 and one on April 11 this year to remove illegal possession in the same area. Such anti-encroachment drives on public roads is done regularly in all wards by North DMC with/without notice under sections 321/322/323/325 of the MCD Act, 1957 with prior intimation to local police," the statement said.

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat termed the bulldozers being run in Delhi's Jahangirpuri area against illegal constructions by the Municipal Corporation as flouting the Constitution.

Brinda Karat, who visited the area with the court order to stop the NDMC action, was livid. "The Supreme Court ordered status quo at 10:45 am. Our lawyers Kapil Sibal and Dushyant Dave mentioned it before the court. I have come to stop this demolition....to stop the authorities from tearing the Supreme Court order to shreds (dhajjiyan udane se rokne aayi hoon)," she said.