A planned anti-encroachment drive by Mohali's civic authorities in Phase 4 was abruptly halted on Monday following strong protests from local residents, escalating a long-standing dispute and prompting judicial intervention. The action led the court to summon key officials, who have now sought more time to present their side of the story.
Drive Sparks Protests, Administration Withdraws
A joint team from the Municipal Corporation and the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) arrived in Phase 4 to execute the demolition drive. However, they were met with immediate and firm resistance from the area's residents. The confrontation forced the administrative teams to withdraw from the location without completing their intended action.
The teams had waited on-site for nearly six hours for clear orders. The demolition work, using a JCB machine, only began around 4 PM after Municipal Commissioner Parminder Pal Singh arrived. This move, however, intensified the commotion. Residents, including Advocate Pritpal Singh Bassi, demanded that the commissioner produce written orders authorizing the action, leading to heated arguments.
Court Summons Officials, Next Hearing on December 8
The legal backdrop to this confrontation is significant. A day prior, Phase 4 residents had challenged the administration's joint action, labeling it as "arbitrary" and "against rules," and filed a petition in the Mohali court. Responding to this, the court on Monday summoned representatives from GMADA, the Municipal Corporation, and the police.
When the officials appeared, they requested additional time to prepare and submit their formal response. The court has accordingly scheduled the next hearing in the matter for December 8. In a related development, residents have also filed a plea in a contempt case pending in the High Court, seeking to add it to the ongoing proceedings; this plea is slated for a hearing on Tuesday, December 2.
Allegations of Vendetta and Official Denial
During the protests, serious allegations were leveled against the civic body. Advocate Bassi claimed that the municipal team acted out of "personal vendetta" by specifically targeting the house of an individual who was part of the group that approached the court. He alleged the team removed and took away the iron grill from that house. "We are filing a complaint at the Phase-1 police station against the Municipal Commissioner and the team that came," he stated.
When contacted, Municipal Commissioner Parminder Pal Singh categorically refuted these allegations. He asserted that the drive was being conducted in strict adherence to the directions of the Hon'ble High Court and denied any personal motives. "Action will be uniform, and no one will be allowed to encroach on government land. Anyone obstructing official duty will face legal consequences as per the law," Singh emphasized.
The standoff highlights the ongoing tension between residents and civic authorities over land use and demolition drives in Mohali's developing sectors, with the judiciary now actively involved in resolving the dispute.
