Jamshedpur: Vakalatnama in house demolition case sent to NGT advocates

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, August 21: Santosh Gupta, President of the Indranagar-Kalyan Nagar Basti Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, which was formed to oppose the demolition of 150 houses, has sent a Vakalatnama (legal authorization) to the advocates representing the case in the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The Vakalatnama authorizes NGT advocates Manasi Bachani, Isha Krishna, Dr. BP Neelratna, Soumitra Jaiswal, Shubham Upadhyay, Geetanjali Sanyal and Surya Gupta to represent the slum dwellers.

The legal step followed a recent meeting between Jamshedpur East MLA Saryu Roy and Senior Advocate Sanjay Upadhyay in Delhi, where it was discussed that a Vakalatnama would be required to proceed with the case. The Vakalatnama has now been sent in preparation for the hearing scheduled in the NGT on August 23.

The case involved the Jamshedpur Local Planning Authority (JPLA) notice issued by the Circle Office to demolish over 150 houses in the areas of Kalyan Nagar, Indira Nagar, and Chhaya Nagar in Bhuinyadih. The notice, dated July 6, directed residents to vacate their homes within 14 days and respond by July 20, explaining why their houses should not be demolished.

The demolition orders were based on a joint survey conducted by the Water Resources Department, Mango Municipal Corporation, Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee, and the District Administration, following instructions from the National Green Tribunal. MLA Saryu Roy has assured the residents that he would not allow their houses to be demolished.