Jharkhand High Court directs JNAC to file affidavit on illegal constructions demolition plan in Jamshedpur

Ranchi, June 27:  Jharkhand High Court directed Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC) to file a detailed affidavit on their demolition plans for illegal constructions.

The High Court has also directed the petitioner who had filed a plea for illegal constructions in violation of building by-laws in Jamshedpur to give copies of all the affidavits to the advocates of Tata Steel and TSUISL (formerly Jusco) so that they can file their affidavits on how they gave electricity and water to illegal buildings without completion certificates.

The High Court also directed Jharkhand state to file its affidavit in this regard. The next date of hearing is on July 31.

The JNAC lawyer admitted before the High Court that in the last 14 years no illegal construction has been demolished and only 35 basements have been vacated. But the lawyer told JNAC has formed a committee which could not work due to elections, now it has started working and on the instructions of that committee, the action of demolishing illegal constructions will be started soon.

Incidentally petitioner lawyer Akhilesh Srivastava told the High Court that JNAC has given completion certificate to only 28 out of 1800 illegal buildings whereas Tata Steel and TSUISL have violated section 440 of Municipal Act and have given electricity and water connection to all illegal buildings with the consent of Deputy Commissioner. Hence, High Court should direct the Deputy Commissioner to make Tata Steel and Jusco follow the Municipal Act.