HC seeks civic body head’s reply on encroachment

The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Tuesday directed the commissioner of the Shimla Municipal Corporation to conduct a detailed spot inspection and file an affidavit on all encroachment and unauthorised constructions that have come uo on government land in the town.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Sanjay Karol passed these orders on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) taken up by the court suo moto,based on a letter written by Jagdish Chand — a native of Krishna Nagar — to the Chief Justice.

In his letter,Chand has informed the court about alleged encroachment on land belonging to different departments,including forest and municipal land. He added that numerous encroachment and unauthorised constructions have come up over government land in Krishna Nagar,Lal Pani,Nabha,Ruldu Bhatta,near Tara Hall and RTO office.

These unauthorised structures have been provided with water,electricity and sewerage connections,which is not possible without connivance of government authorities,Chand alleged.