HC asks authorities to check encroachments at historical sites

Noticing that the district administrations had failed to check illegal encroachments at the historical sites, the Punjab and Haryana high court made it clear to the deputy commissioners of Gurgaon, Karnal and Hisar that if they fail to take action as per law, they would have to remain present in court for explanation on next date of hearing.

The directions came from the court headed by justice Mahesh Grover on Tuesday in an ongoing contempt of court case against the Haryana government authorities for failing to check illegal encroachments at the historical sites even after giving undertaking before the court.

During the hearing of the case, central gover nment’s senior counsel, Sukhdee p Singh Sandhu, after his personal visit to the Mughal Sarai in Hisar, submitted the inspection report along with suggestions for retrieval of illegal encroachments from the historical site. Sandhu informed that a government school and an office of the irrigation department were functioning from the premises of the historical site illegally. He informed that if the school and office are shifted, the place could be developed well for the tourism purpose.

Appreciating suggestions submitted by the counsel, also to beautify the place, justice Grover also directed him to have a meeting with the Gurgaon deputy commissioner to find feasible solutions regarding removal of encroachments from the historical monuments in the district.

In case of removal of encroachments from the ruined fort of Hansi in Hisar district, the deputy commissioner concerned informed the court that people were being rehabilitated from the site by handing them 100 square yard plots. The court also granted three months’ time to the Hisar deputy commissioner to take desirable action with regard to removal of illegal encroachments at such historical sites.