SC stays hearing of petitions against Bhim Rao Ambedkar Sthal

New Delhi, Apr 21 (UNI) The Supreme Court today stayed till further orders the hearing of the petitions in Allahabad High Court against the construction of 'Bhim Rao Ambedkar Sthal' spread over 53 acres of land in Gomti Nagar area of Lucknow.

A bench comprising Justices HK Sema and Markandey Katju also issued notices on the petitions filed by the UP government seeking transfer of all the petitions to the Supreme Court.

Justice Katju told the respondents, ''How can a court pass an order saying that Parliament shall not pass any law till we permit?'' Justice Katju also said, ''Such an order is a nullity and should not be complied with. It is the job of Parliament to make laws.'' Gomti Nagar Jan Kalyan Mahasamiti and another organisation had filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging the UP government notification changing the land use of the area to facilitate the construction of 'Ambedkar Park,' 'Rama Devi Rally Sthal' and 'Kanshi Ram Shodh Snasthan' coming up on 103 acres of land with an approximate cost of about Rs 1000 crores.

Senior Counsel Harish Salve, appearing for UP government, submitted before the court that four writ petitions have been filed with ulterior motives.

Senior Counsel KTS Tulsi, appearing for the respondents, however, told the apex court the state government was acting in violation of the directions of this court dated April 8, 2008 directing the government not to raise any fresh constructions.

The state government, however, changed Lucknow Master Plan on 11th of this month.

The apex court also directed that the contempt petition filed against the UP government for violating the orders of this court dated April 8, 2008 shall also be heard along with the main case.

UP Chief Minister Mayawati has been taking personal interest in the completion and renovation of the project which were in a state of utter negligence during previous Mulayam Singh Yadav regime.

The apex court also directed the respondents to file their counter affidavit within four weeks.

UNI XC SZ RP PM1330