Punjab and Haryana HC halts Sirsa's green belt constructions

18 Apr 2024 CW Team

It was observed by the High Court that construction activities in the green belts of the city are ongoing without any hindrance. Consequently, the High Court has directed the Haryana government to ensure that no further construction occurs in any area designated as a green belt, even if it pertains to a religious institution.

The primary accusations suggest that local political figures, including Gopal Kanda and his brother Gobind Kanda, have been supporting these encroachments through their political influence. This directive was issued by a division bench comprising Justice G S Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji, in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Kartar Singh, a resident of Sirsa city and a retired principal from the education department, Haryana.

The bench noted in its order, It is pointed out that the land on which construction of religious nature has been raised is part of a green belt. The bench further referred to various communications where official respondents acknowledged the need to remove unauthorized encroachments. They also referenced several photographs indicating previous attempts to remove encroachments, which have since persisted.

The next hearing is scheduled for May 27. During the proceedings, the petitioner informed the High Court that green belts, intended to produce sufficient oxygen, have been jeopardized by vested interests. These spaces, meant for plantation and public use, have come under direct attack from caste-based societies, religious fundamentalists, and political entities.

The petitioner asserted that they had submitted a total of 21 representations regarding encroachments and wrongful transfers of land to caste-based societies and trusts. These representations pleaded for the vacation of public places, reported the vandalism of green belts, and highlighted encroachments through the erection of temporary tents and subsequent construction of buildings under different religious affiliations by individuals assuming roles as social and religious workers. Besides Sirsa MLA Gopal Kanda and his brother Gobind Kanda, who is a BJP leader, the petitioner also alleged that former Odisha governor Ganeshi Lal?s son Manish Singla and Gokul Setia, maternal grandson of former home minister Laxman Dass Arora, have been aiding and abetting the encroachers.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a notice to the Haryana government, the district administration of Sirsa, Sirsa MLA Gopal Kanda, and other officers of the district regarding a petition alleging encroachments by various caste-based societies, trusts, and individuals on most of the green belts in Sirsa city. It was observed by the High Court that construction activities in the green belts of the city are ongoing without any hindrance. Consequently, the High Court has directed the Haryana government to ensure that no further construction occurs in any area designated as a green belt, even if it pertains to a religious institution. The primary accusations suggest that local political figures, including Gopal Kanda and his brother Gobind Kanda, have been supporting these encroachments through their political influence. This directive was issued by a division bench comprising Justice G S Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji, in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Kartar Singh, a resident of Sirsa city and a retired principal from the education department, Haryana. The bench noted in its order, It is pointed out that the land on which construction of religious nature has been raised is part of a green belt. The bench further referred to various communications where official respondents acknowledged the need to remove unauthorized encroachments. They also referenced several photographs indicating previous attempts to remove encroachments, which have since persisted. The next hearing is scheduled for May 27. During the proceedings, the petitioner informed the High Court that green belts, intended to produce sufficient oxygen, have been jeopardized by vested interests. These spaces, meant for plantation and public use, have come under direct attack from caste-based societies, religious fundamentalists, and political entities. The petitioner asserted that they had submitted a total of 21 representations regarding encroachments and wrongful transfers of land to caste-based societies and trusts. These representations pleaded for the vacation of public places, reported the vandalism of green belts, and highlighted encroachments through the erection of temporary tents and subsequent construction of buildings under different religious affiliations by individuals assuming roles as social and religious workers. Besides Sirsa MLA Gopal Kanda and his brother Gobind Kanda, who is a BJP leader, the petitioner also alleged that former Odisha governor Ganeshi Lal?s son Manish Singla and Gokul Setia, maternal grandson of former home minister Laxman Dass Arora, have been aiding and abetting the encroachers.