The CPI, in its plea, had urged the court to impose a stay on the demolition for at least a couple of days. The court, however, said that ‘not at your behest’.
New Delhi: Amid uproar over South Delhi Municipal Corporation ‘s demolition drive in Shaheen Bagh area, the Supreme Court on Monday asked CPI (M) to withdraw the petition and go to High Court. Refusing to accept the plea, the Apex Court said that it would have heard the matter if the ‘aggrieved party had come’.
The CPI, in its plea, had urged the court to impose a stay on the demolition for at least a couple of days. The court, however, said that ‘not at your behest’. “Why is CPI(M) filing the petition? We are there to protect livelihoods but not like this,” the court said, adding that, “Either you withdraw or we dismiss your plea.”
The top court rebuked the party saying that you do not even go to the High Court. “You come straight to the Supreme Court. What is this? A political party coming here and telling us what to do,” it further added.
The court said that it will intervene if there is a violation of law. It asked not to file petitions in this way. “You could have gone to the High Court if the action was not in accordance with law,” the Supreme Court said. Notably, South MCD has started an anti-encroachment drive in Shaheen Bagh. The drive, however, was halted at Shaheen Bagh when traders and AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan assured that illegal structures would be removed.
During the morning hours on Monday when the drive was started amid the presence of police personnel, hundreds of people including traders, shopkeepers and area residents gathered to protest. Local area MLA, who was present at the spot, said that all illegal structures have already been removed. He alleged that the agency has brought the bulldozer and put it here to show that I am obstructing their work to remove the encroachment.
