All eyes on Supreme Court’s final verdict
Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, March 9: The Jharkhand High Court on Monday heard a significant public interest litigation (PIL) concerning alleged illegal constructions under the Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC).
However, the court refrained from issuing any fresh directions after it was informed that the matter is currently under consideration before the Supreme Court of India.
The division bench comprising Chief Justice M. S. Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar took up the case and noted that the Supreme Court’s stay on demolition remains in force.
In view of the ongoing proceedings in the apex court, the High Court decided not to pass any new orders and scheduled the next hearing after four weeks.
Demolition Order Had Triggered Panic
The case pertains to around 24 multi-storey buildings located in some of Jamshedpur’s prominent localities, including Sakchi, Kadma and Bistupur. Earlier in January, the High Court had adopted a strict stance and ordered the demolition of these buildings for alleged map deviations and violations of approved building plans.
The order had sent shockwaves across the city, as many property owners and residents feared immediate demolition. Subsequently, the affected parties approached the Supreme Court, which granted interim relief by staying the demolition proceedings.
Legal Uncertainty Continues
During the latest hearing, counsel for the petitioners, Advocate Vijay Kumar Roy, informed the court that since the Supreme Court’s stay remains in effect, no punitive or demolition action can currently be taken against the structures.
Accepting the submission, the High Court deferred the matter. For now, the fate of the disputed buildings remains uncertain, with all eyes on the Supreme Court’s final verdict, which will ultimately determine the future of the allegedly illegal structures in Jamshedpur.
