Tenants of Mehamoodabad ruler to stay: SC

New Delhi, Sep 8 (UNI) The Supreme Court today directed that the eviction order passed by this court in relation to the property of Raja of Mehamoodabad in Uttar Pradesh shall not be applicable to those tenants who were inducted by the late Ruler of Mehamoodabad.

A bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhan and Markandey Katju while hearing the petitions filed by 200 tenants who were being evicted by the custodian in Lucknow, directed that those tenants who have the documents to prove that they were inducted by the late ruler who had shifted to Pakistan in 1965, would not be evicted as the custodian has no authority to evict those whom he had not inducted.

The apex court had issued contempt of court notices against 24 senior officers of Uttar Pradesh including four district magistrates, eight SDMs and two SPs who had not vacated the prime properties despite the court's orders and were having offices and residences in the property which was declared an enemy property after the ruler shifted to Pakistan in 1965.

Most of the officers, however vacated the property following the issuance of contempt of court notice by the apex court.

UNI AKS/SC RP KN1715