Chandigarh, October 11
Nearly 10 days after Punjab gave an undertaking not to go ahead with “any further construction activity” after a petition alleged carrying out of unsanctioned public works, constructions, and uprooting of “100-year-old trees” in Sangrur, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered continuation of the interim order.
The order, on the basis of the state counsel’s statement before the Bench of Chief Justice Ravi Shanker Jha and Justice Arun Palli, will remain in force at least till October 29, the next date of hearing in the matter.
As the case came up for resumed hearing, Jasinder Sekhon and other petitioners filed an application alleging violation of the interim orders passed by the court. The notice of the application, issued to the state and other respondents, was accepted by an Assistant Advocate-General.
Taking note of his prayer for time to file reply, the Bench adjourned the hearing before asserting: “The interim order on the basis of the statement made by Assistant Advocate General, Punjab, shall continue till the next date of hearing”.
Appearing before the Bench, senior advocate RS Bains had earlier contended: “The expenditure is wasteful to the extent that when civil hospital and the schools are crying for attention, public fund is being used for complete beautification purpose which itself makes the city ugly.”
The respondents, in their earlier reply, submitted there was no evidence in the petition to support the allegations that the “whole project” was “wasteful expenditure”. The petitioners had, in fact, failed to show that the sanctioned public works of upgrade, including widening and beautification, of a stretch of a road had violated any orders. — TNS
Tree felling: HC interim order on Sangrur public works to continue
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