SC directive brings reprieve to Hazratganj landscape

Lucknow, Sep 10 (UNI) The landscape of the famed Hazratganj, the upmarket place which has become synoymous with Nawab city of Lucknow, has been saved following a court order in favour of many owners of shops and glittering show rooms who were under threat to vacate their premises.

The issue, which had given sleepless nights to the traders' community and the Lakhnawi citizens alike, has largely been settled after the Supreme Court order issued yesterday.

The court verdict ensured that the 'Ganjing' (leisurly stroll down the Hazratganj market streets) would not lose its sheen after the most of the shop owners have been asked to maintain their possessions.

A situation of uncertainity had arisen after Supremr Court verdict on 32-year-old case in the favour of Raja Mehmoodabad who had huge propoerties spread over the state capital of Lucknow, adjacent districts of Sitapur, Barabanki, Lakhimpur Kheri and Nainital in Uttarakhand.

An alumnus of Oxford and Cambridge universities, Raja Amir Mohammad Khan, the king of earstwhile Mehmoodabad estate which is situated about 60 km from here, had won the long drwan court battle after his father had migrated to Pakistan and his property was decalred 'enemy property' after the 1965 Indo-Pak conflict.

In fact, the then Raja Mehmoodabad left the country for Pakistan in 1957 but his wife and only son Amir Mohammad Khan stayed back as Indian citizens. In 1965, their property was seized by the government and was decalred as 'enemy propoerty'.

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