The Supreme Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to seal 16,726 unauthorised structures in Meerut and proceed with the demolition of illegal constructions, in one of the most sweeping enforcement orders of its kind in the state.
The court's order
A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan, hearing a contempt petition over non-compliance with earlier directives on illegal constructions, ordered authorities to take action against all 16,726 illegal structures identified in the city's Zone-A at the earliest.
The number comes from a survey by 16 teams, which found that 12,907 of the structures are residential, 874 are residential-cum-non-residential, and 2,945 are non-residential. The town was divided into four zones — Zone-A to Zone-D — for the inspection exercise.
"We are shocked and disturbed to learn, reading the status report, that hundreds of illegal residential colonies have come up at Uldepur," the bench said after going through the report of the chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Awas Evam Vikas Parishad.
Seal first, then demolish
The court said the first step would be to ask occupants to vacate the premises and seal all 16,726 structures, followed by demolition. It warned that some structures may be in a dilapidated condition and could collapse, causing casualties — and that the responsible government officer would be held personally liable if lives were lost.
"The overall picture, as reflected from the status report, appears to be extremely grim and serious. The authorities need to work day and night to demolish these unauthorised constructions," the bench observed.
The court also sought comprehensive reports on Zones B, C and D, since the status report did not address the situation there.
Inquiry into officials' inaction
For Uldepur, on the outskirts of Meerut, the court constituted a judicial commission headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia. The commission will examine why the Meerut Development Authority remained inactive for over five years while illegal colonies came up, and whether officials colluded in the process.
Of 44 properties sealed at Uldepur in the earliest phase, 20 have been demolished. The court ordered the remaining 24 to be demolished at the earliest. The matter is listed for hearing in December.
Sources:
Verdictum: Supreme Court Directs UP Govt To Seal Over 16,000 Properties In Meerut & Demolish Unauthorised Structures
Amar Ujala: SC Orders Sealing Of Over 16,000 Properties, Demolition Of Illegal Structures In Meerut
LiveLaw: Residential Premises Used For Commercial Activity Must Be Sealed