Punjab & Haryana HC stayed demolition in Chandigarh

The Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday stayed the demolition drive in Sector 19 in a relief to residents alleging a pick-and-choose method in removing encroachments in the form of green belts on berms in front of houses. Till the next date of hearing and the time the UT administration and municipal corporation (MC) complete the task of preparing a draft policy on parking and carry out a survey on encroachments, the demolition drive shall not be undertaken, a double bench of the high court ordered. Notices were issued to the administration and the civic body. The matter would come up for hearing on April 25. Pankaj Jain, senior standing counsel, UT, said a parking policy is being formulated. Residents Welfare Association, Sector 19 C, Chandigarh (government houses), had moved the petition, seeking a stay on the drive that had begun on January 2 following a high court order on December 21, 2018.