Sahara City project: SC gives breather to Maya govt

New Delhi, Jun 23: In a major reprieve to the Mayawati goverment in Uttar Pradesh, the Supreme Court today directed the parties concerned to maintain the status quo as of today in connection with the alleged illegal construction in the Sahara Shahr housing complex project in Gomati Nagar, Lucknow.

A Vacation Bench comprising Justice Altamas Kabir and Justice G S Singhvi also issued notices to the Sahara India Commercial Corporation Ltd(SICCL), the company contructing flats in Sahara Shahr. Lucknow Development Authority(LDA) and the UP government have come in appeal against the Allahabad High Court order dated June 19 directing the state government to restore the boundary wall, demolished by LDA, for the construction of a road. LDA had demolished the wall, as according to it, the wall was an illegal construction and it was constructed on public land.

The High Court had pulled up the state government and had directed it to restore the boundary wall as the Sahara group had the right to protect its property by raising a wall. The apex court granted two-week time to SICCL to file its response and the petitioner would file their rejoinder affidavit within a week thereafter, and the matter would be listed for a hearing immediately after the completion of pleadings.

With today's order, the apex court has virtually stayed the High Court order and there would be neither any demolition nor any construction by any of the parties till further orders. The hospital constructed by Sahara Shahr was also demolished by LDA . Sahara Shahr is spread over 270 acres of land.

UNI