A Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court has put a stay on the state government’s notification to acquire 117 acre at Bijnaur Road.The Bench comprising Justice Pradeep Kant and Shabihul Hasnain restricted the state government from carrying out any demolition drive at the site for developing a parking lot at the Ramabai Ambedkar Rally Maidan. After hearing a writ petition filed by the villagers of Aurangabad Jageer and Aurangabad Khalsa, the court issued an interim order.OP Srivastav, petitioners’ counsel told the court that hundreds of houses, a few schools and clinics fell in the area proposed to be acquired for the parking lot. The Bench asked the government counsel regarding the utility of the proposed parking lot when only a few political rallies are held in a year. It ordered the Chief Standing Counsel, DK Upadhyay, to submit the details of the project on December 17. “The notification for the land acquisition has already been issued. The High Court, however, restricted the state government as well as the local residents from going ahead with any fresh construction at the proposed site,” said Upadhyay.
