The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on Monday expressed strong disapproval over viral videos showing sticks being distributed among lawyers during a hearing related to the removal of encroachments around the civil court complex in Kaisarbagh. A division bench comprising Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan and Justice Rajeev Bharti remarked, 'Do you think that by distributing sticks you will stop the administration from carrying out its lawful duties?' The court further warned that it would consider initiating criminal contempt proceedings against those involved.
Court's Observations on the Situation
The court made these observations while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning the encroachment issue. It noted that judicial work in the district court had remained suspended for the past week, describing the situation as serious. The bench emphasized that the administration must be allowed to perform its duties without obstruction.
Arguments by Lawyers Opposing Anti-Encroachment Drive
During the hearing, lawyers opposing the anti-encroachment drive argued that the municipal corporation had carried out demolitions without properly identifying the encroachments. They claimed that a photocopy shop, whose rent was paid to the district court, was demolished in the process. In response, the court acknowledged the incident but clarified that the shop had been damaged accidentally. It added that the affected shopkeeper had been allotted another shop at the same location, and efforts were underway to compensate for the losses.
Importance of Removing Encroachments
The bench reiterated that encroachments often caused ambulances to get stuck in the area, and in one such incident, a patient had died. The court stressed that removing encroachments was essential for public safety and the smooth functioning of emergency services.
Allotment of Land for Lawyers' Chambers
The court also noted that formalities for allotting the land of the old tehsil in Kaisarbagh for lawyers' chambers were nearly complete. Bar associations had been informed about this development, which is expected to provide better facilities for legal professionals.
