Ensure roads are stray cattle, encroachment-free, SC tells civic bodies

The Supreme Court issued an order on Tuesday to states and union territories to clear public spaces and roads of stray cattle and encroachments. A bench of justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan expressed shock at the anarchy on roads and non-compliance with rules, emphasizing the alarming state of encroachment on public land.

The court directed civic agencies to provide reports on actions taken against individuals misusing building bye-laws. The order applies to all public areas across the country, including major state capitals like Delhi, Lucknow, Jaipur, Chennai, and Kolkata. The bench questioned the lack of compliance reports from several states and civic bodies, requesting a pan-India status of action against encroachment and stray cattle.

The court also found that several states were not parties to the proceedings, prompting them to include all states and union territories. In Lucknow, where a fire at a coaching center killed 15 people, the court was informed that officials have been suspended for misusing residential premises for commercial purposes. Notices have been issued to 51 such properties in Lucknow alone.

The court warned that the public has lost patience and that the states should take the matter seriously, or the court may summon their chief secretaries. The court was also briefed about the widespread illegal constructions in Delhi, with buildings exceeding sanctioned plans by significant margins, leading to tragic incidents like the collapse of a five-storeyed building in Saket on May 30, which left at least 6 dead and 14 injured. The court agreed to address the Delhi matter on the following day.