Ambedkar Awas: MPHC notices on demolition

Jabalpur, July 20 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh High Court today issued notices to the state Secretary (Home), Secretary (Urban Administration and Development) and Collector, Chhindwara, on a PIL challenging demolition of houses constructed in Chhindwara district for dalits under the Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana.

While hearing the plea by Dalit Sena Chhindwara President Tarabai, Chief Justice Anang Kumar Patnaik and Justice Ajit Singh also issued notices to the Superintendent of Police and another official. Replies are to be submitted in six weeks.

The petitioner submitted that the government surveyed a large plot at a dalit settlement in Chhindwara town's Ward Number 25 for constructing abodes for dalits and the poor. The Minister in charge of the district even performed bhoomi pujan on July 1, 2004 and work began.

Certain influential persons residing in the plot's vicinity allegedly attempted to have the project scrapped due to political vendetta.

On June 6, 2005, the district administration endeavoured to forcibly remove, from the plot, temporary houses and huts of dalits and those living BPL.

The petitioner was represented by Advocate Rajesh Chand while Mr Samdarshi Tiwari represented the government.

UNI