Notice to LDA for alleged land grab

“At 11 pm on Thursday,over a dozen people entered,scaling the boundary wall and tried to erect a tent in the garden,” said Abdullah. “They claimed to be LDA staff. Early on Friday morning,eight security personnel again entered the premises.”

The bungalow stands in a prime area of Lucknow — Mall Avenue area — next to the BSP office. It is separated by a lane from a residence of Chief Minister Mayawati,allotted to her in the capacity of a former Chief Minister.

In 2009 too,Abdullah had moved the High Court when the LDA had tried to take possession of bungalow’s garden. On Friday,he cited the court’s earlier order,staying the LDA from taking possession of the land.  

“The interim order dated August 8,2009 is still in existence and despite the High Court order,officials of the LDA and police forcibly entered the premises of petitioner,” said his counsel Manish Kumar.  

The Bench,comprising Justice Pradeeep Kant and Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi,directed the LDA vice-chairman to file a reply. The court also directed the LDA to remove any security guard it had deployed there,Kumar said.

The case has been listed for hearing on May 17.

The LDA Vice-Chairman Mukesh Kumar Meshram was not available for comment.

The LDA counsel,Chief Standing Counsel D K Upadhyay,said: “The LDA had cancelled the lease on the garden last year and it is now in the agency’s possession. The petitioner just has a lease for the building. The security personnel had entered the garden to take shelter during rain.”