Supreme Court Directs Railways To Maintain Status Quo On Demolitions Near Krishna Janmabhoomi For 10 Days

New Delhi: A Supreme Court bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose, Sanjay Kumar and SVN Bhatti on Wednesday ordered status quo on the demolition drive being carried out by railway authorities to clear alleged illegal constructions near the Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. The bench issued a notice to the Centre and others in the matter.

The lawyer, appearing for the petitioner Yakub Shah, told the bench that 100 houses have been bulldozed. “There are 70-80 houses left. Whole thing will become infructuous. They conducted the exercise on a day when Uttar Pradesh courts were closed,” he said. The court has put the demolition drive on hold for 10 days and issued a notice to the Centre on the pleas against the demolition and posts case after one week, according to reports.

Around 100 houses were demolished in the Nai Basti area, which is predominantly inhabited by a minority population.

“Structures illegally constructed on railway land are being removed following due process. The land is required to transform the line from Mathura to Vrindavan from narrow gauge to broad gauge,” Nitin Garg, the Divisional Work Engineer of Railways said, according to a report by Times of India.

Supreme Court puts on hold for 10 days the demolition drive by Railway authorities to clear encroachment near Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura.

SC ordering status quo on demolition drive, also issues notice to Centre on plea against demolition and posts case after one week. pic.twitter.com/DILQDwtpYn

— ANI (@ANI) August 16, 2023

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