‘Only 70-80 houses remain’ but relief for Mathura residents as SC stays demolition drive

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked Railways to stop a demolition drive in Mathura of the alleged encroachments on its land near Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi in Uttar Pradesh. (PTI photo)

Residents affected by railway authorities' demolition drive celebrated the Supreme Court's order on the issue. (PTI photo)

The petitioners had told the court that only 70-80 out of the 200 houses remained and contended that the petition would become infructuous if the demolitions were allowed to continue. (PTI photo)

The petitioners told a three-judge bench presided by Justice Aniruddha Bose that the courts in Uttar Pradesh were closed when they approached the Supreme Court and that a majority of the houses had been demolished in the meanwhile. (PTI photo)

In pic, people can be seen standing on the debris of the illegal structures after the anti-encroachment drive in Mathura, Monday (Aug 14). (PTI photo)

Security personnel was deployed during removal of encroachments from railway land along the Mathura-Vrindavan railway line, in Mathura on Aug 9. (PTI photo)

The railway authorities said the demolitions were part of the anti-encroachment drive to make the land free for converting the narrow gauge from Mathura to Vrindavan to broad gauge. (PTI photo)

The Supreme Court also directed that the matter be listed again after one week. (PTI photo)