44 unauthorised constructions sealed in Meerut, Top Court told

The bench was hearing a contempt plea against the state authorities for not acting against the illegal constructions.

Shakdher pointed out that there are some parts of construction, which the authorities may be in a position to compound in accordance with the byelaws.

On this the bench said, “We make it clear that before the authorities proceed with the compounding, we must know what these byelaws are all about and whether in fact they do allow compounding or not.”

The court will hear the matter in July 2026.

The court permitted the Parishad, “To first issue notice to all those occupants as regards setbacks and grant them a particular period of time to remove these setbacks themselves, failing which Parishad shall thereafter proceed to take appropriate action and also recover costs from the concerned occupant.”

Earlier this month, the bench had grilled Guruprasad and former Meerut Divisional Commissioner Hrishikesh Bhaskar Yashod for violating its order that illegal constructions, however old, cannot be regularised.

On Thursday, the court said, “This litigation is an eye-opener for the state machinery of UP….”

“Had the authorities taken appropriate action…, this situation would not been brought around,” it added.

Expressing shock over the extent of illegal constructions, the bench had earlier pointed out: “Schools and hospitals are being run in buildings/constructions, which are absolutely illegal and unauthorised. We wonder how they were able to procure electricity connection.”

However, Shakdher told the bench that students have been shifted to other schools, patients to other hospitals.

Additionally, a branch of the IDFC Bank, sought permission to shift its operations, including 300 lockers, from the premises. The court permitted the bank to make a representation to the Parishad, which it said will take an appropriate call.

Hearing the matter on April 6, the court questioned Yashod, who appeared before it in response to a plea for contempt of court proceedings, as to why he had directed in October 2025, that shops in the Central Market area would not be demolished.

Yashod said he had issued the direction as there was “public hue and cry” over an earlier demolition.

Following this, Justice Pardiwala then asked, “So will you succumb to hue and cry by encroachers or will you go by the rule of law. You are a public servant. You are expected to maintain the rule of law.”