Allahabad High Court has halted the demolition of buildings in the historic Daal Mandi area of Varanasi, offering temporary relief to local traders and residents amid concerns of forced evictions tied to a government redevelopment plan.
The High Court granted the stay in response to a petition filed by a local shop owner, Imamuddin Ahmad, who alleged that state officials had threatened him with eviction and pressured him to vacate his property without formal acquisition or compensation. The petition was supported by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR).
Daal Mandi, a densely populated commercial neighbourhood in the heart of Varanasi, is home to over 10,000 shops, many operated by Muslim traders. The area faces demolition under a road-widening initiative linked to the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, a major religious and tourism development project.
The petitioner claimed that representatives from the Public Works Department had visited his premises in Mohalla Resham Katra and attempted to force him to hand over possession of his shop, CK-69/5, under the guise of voluntary cooperation.
The court, in its May 29 order, cited assurances from the Additional Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh that “the respondents would not disturb the possession of the petitioner” and would refrain from any demolition unless the state acquires ownership “by compulsory acquisition or by any other mode recognized under law.”
A two-judge bench comprising Justice Salil Kumar Rai and Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal disposed of the writ petition based on the state’s assurance.
The petitioners were represented by Senior Advocate Syed Farman Ahmad Naqvi, along with advocates Zaheer Asghar and Syed Ahmed Faizan. The state was represented by Additional Advocate General M.C. Chaturvedi and Additional Chief Standing Counsel V.K. Dixit.
The court’s decision underscores the requirement for compliance with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
APCR said the stay order from the Allahabad High Court offered relief to local residents and business owners in Varanasi’s historic Daal Mandi area, and also raised concerns about forced eviction and demolition without following proper legal procedures.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com.
