The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to pass any directions against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati for allegedly defying its orders and constructing certain structures for proposed Kanshi Ram Research Institute, Lucknow, but said it would examine the charge if the petitioner submits concrete details.
“We cannot rely on newspaper reports. You give us the details and we will examine the issue. Give us specific details. You can also file a contempt petition if you feel that demolitions have been carried out,” a bench of Justices B. N. Aggrawal and Aftab Alam said.
The apex court granted the petitioner Mithilesh Kumar a week’s time to submit the details and listed the matter in the mentioning list for next Tuesday.
The apex court passed the direction after Mr.Kumar complained that the Mayawati government was going ahead with the demolitions of various green belt area in Lucknow city for construction of the BSP founder’s memorial adjoining the Ambedkar Sthal park.
He also alleged that despite the apex court restraining the State on February 27 from carrying out further demolitions, the government was going ahead with the same and also erecting new structures.
However, the petitioner could not furnish any specific details except newspaper clippings, after which the bench directed the petitioner’s counsel C. D. Singh to furnish further details.
The petitioner and several others had earlier obtained a stay on the demolitions of 30-odd buildings in Lucknow city for the construction of the proposed memorial.
The Mayawati government had triggered a controversy by changing the land use of certain areas adjoining the 35-acre sprawling Ambedkar Sthal park green belt area for demolishing 30-odd public buildings to construct the memorial.
However, the move was opposed by Gomti Nagar Jan Kalyan Mahasamithi, petitioner Mithilesh Kumar and others who alleged the entire exercise was illegal as the proposed construction was sought to be made in a notified green belt area by demolishing buildings which were decades old.
The Allahabhad High Court, while hearing a PIL, stayed the demolitions until it decided the validity of the government’s action, after which the State filed a special leave petition in the apex court in April last year.
The apex court had initially vacated the stay on the demolitions but subsequently passed another order restraining the State from carrying out demolitions.
