Jharkhand High Court order ignored, Mango CO and MMC accused of forceful demolition of Jamshedpur house

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, April 3: In a flagrant disregard for a High Court order, allegations have surfaced against Mango Circle Officer and Mango Municipal Corporation (MMC) for forcefully demolishing a section of a residence in Mango, Jamshedpur. The incident, involving the demolition of part of Shyam Sundar Agarwal’s house, has sparked outcry over the apparent misuse of authority.

The dispute traces back to a land ownership conflict between Shyam Sundar Agarwal and his neighbor, Rahul Singh, dating back to 2018. Following a dispute over a road, Agarwal’s garage was reportedly demolished by the then Circle Officer. Subsequently, Agarwal sought legal recourse, leading to a High Court ruling on February 26, 2024, mandating the demarcation and measurement of Agarwal’s land, with instructions to demolish any encroaching structures.

However, in defiance of the court’s directives, Agarwal alleges that erroneous land measurement and a flawed assessment led to the wrongful demolition notice being pasted on the night of March 30. The municipal authorities purportedly claimed Agarwal’s property encroached upon government land, despite Agarwal asserting his rightful ownership of raiyat land.

Efforts to address the issue through official channels proved futile, with Agarwal reportedly lodging complaints with the Deputy Commissioner and meeting Minister Banna Gupta. Despite ministerial intervention urging a correct measurement, municipal authorities proceeded unilaterally, resulting in the demolition of Agarwal’s property on April 1.

During the demolition, Agarwal’s family, including women and children, were reportedly present inside the house, raising concerns over safety and procedural fairness. Agarwal alleges a loss of Rs 50 to 60 lakh due to the vandalism, prompting him to contemplate another legal recourse through the High Court.

Municipal Corporation officials, however, assert the action was taken in compliance with a longstanding court order to remove encroachments on government land. They appointed magistrates to oversee the demolition, which they claim was necessary following the court’s ruling.