Residents of 78 Civil Lines police quarters near the district courts in Amritsar have expressed concern after being directed to vacate their homes to make way for a new judicial complex and a multi-level lawyers' chambers complex.
Plea for Extension
The occupants have urged the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the District and Sessions Judge, the Deputy Commissioner, and the Police Commissioner to grant them time until August to vacate the quarters. Some families have lived in these houses for nearly two decades, and most occupants are serving or retired police personnel.
Representation Submitted
In a representation to authorities, residents stated that the Registrar General, through an order dated May 15, 2026, directed the vacation of 78 police quarters for the proposed expansion of judicial infrastructure. While they are not opposed to the development project, they alleged that no clear rehabilitation plan has been provided for affected families.
The residents claimed that many alternative accommodations suggested by authorities are either already occupied or unfit for habitation. They further alleged that several quarters identified for relocation remain occupied by police officials, leaving limited options for displaced families.
Demand for Alternative Housing
Despite repeated representations, no satisfactory arrangements have been made for their rehabilitation. The residents requested that alternative accommodation be allotted at least 15 days before any eviction process begins to prevent hardship for families, particularly children and elderly members.
The memorandum, signed by numerous residents, has been forwarded to senior administrative and police officials, including the Deputy Commissioner. The signatories appealed for a humane and practical solution, urging authorities not to evict any family until suitable alternative housing is provided. They also sought immediate intervention to prevent what they described as the unjust displacement of police families serving the state.
Background of the Project
The Building Committee of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh, under the chairmanship of Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi, approved the allocation of land occupied by the police quarters adjacent to the court complex during a meeting with the Amritsar Bar Association on May 6. The land has been earmarked for the construction of a modern multi-level lawyers' chambers complex, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and ample basement parking, along with the expansion of the judicial complex in Amritsar. The committee directed the Deputy Commissioner and the Police Commissioner to ensure that the quarters are vacated within six weeks of the order.
