Mall authorities guilty of criminal trespass,says High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today prima facie found that the action of the management of the Fun Republic (FR) amounts to criminal trespass in the case of Suraj Shopping Centre.

The proprietor Sandeep Arora claimed his shop was blocked by the mall authorities by constructing a wall in front of the entrance. Justice Surya Kant has directed the Manimajra Station House Officer to comply with its orders to register the case within two days. While issuing notice of motion earlier,the Manimajra SHO was directed to be present in court and produce the DDR to explain the steps,if any,taken pursuant to the petitioner’s complaint.

In his petition,Arora stated that earlier he was running three kiosks in the shopping mall. Later,however,certain differences arose and the management shifted him into a single kiosk measuring 145 square feet in the food court.

Arora alleged that on the night of February 12,the mall management constructed a 29-ft long wall in front of the shop in a novel effort to drive him out. The matter was reported to the police but no action was taken. The case was adjourned for April 2 for compliance.