HC notice to Haryana, Centre on plea against demolition in vicinity

COURT TOLD 25 LAKH PEOPLE TO BE AFFECTED, REHABILITATION SOUGHT UNDER 2007 POLICY

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday issued a notice to the Centre and Haryana government among others on a plea seeking stay on demolition of houses in the vicinity of the Gurgaon air force station.

The high court (HC) bench of justices Rajesh Bindal and HS Sidhu has sought replies by September 19. The order came on the petition of a resident, Vikram, in which the proposed action under the Works of Defence Act, 1903, was challenged.

The petitioner’s advocate, Pardeep Rapria, said the plea was filed in the backdrop of the high court asking Gurgaon and Faridabad deputy commissioners (DCs) to issue notices against those who have constructed houses within 300 metres of the Indian air force ammunition depot in Gurgaon and 100 metres around the air force station in Faridabad.

The court was told that petitioner and many others had constructed their houses on their ancestral land and could not be uprooted at the altar of the Defence Act, without ensuring their respectable rehabilitation.

Due to significant changes in the ground realities and enactment of subsequent statutes, after 100 years of passing the Act, the antique law has lost its relevance, Rapria had argued, further stating the demolition would affect a population of 25 lakh in Gurgaon alone.

The petitioner sought quashing of the Act, stating that without rehabilitation and resettlement under the 2007 national policy, the demolition should not be allowed.