TAKING A serious view of non-compliance of his order, Justice DP Singh of the High Court has directed the authorities to remove slaughterhouses, meat/chicken shops from the residential localities within two weeks.
The HC had asked civic officials including LDA secretary to remain personally present during the hearing of a contempt petition in the matter on Wednesday.
The LDA and the LMC were directed to comply with the High Court’s order of May 20, last to remove the slaughter houses, meat/chicken shops from the residential localities within two weeks and file compliance report on oath in court by January 25 next.
In case the affidavit of removal of the slaughter houses is filed, the opposite parties need not appear in person on the next date, the court remarked. The orders of May 20, last was passed on a PIL filed by a local lawyer. On being told that the petitioner as well as his counsel had been threatened by a slaughterhouse owner of Gomti Nagar on mobile phone, the court directed the office to register a criminal contempt against the said person. The SSP Lucknow was directed to provide all necessary assistance and police force to enforce the order of May 20 last passed by the High Court.
Immediately after the court directive both LDA and LMC officials went into a huddle to prepare an action plan. “There are around 200 licensed meat shops in the city presently,” said additional municipal commissioner Santosh Kumar adding that the civic body had so far removed 259 illegal meat shops from residential localities. Stating that the court order only related to illegal meat shops in residential areas, he said, licensed meat shops in commercial localities would not be touched in the drive.
{{/usCountry}}Immediately after the court directive both LDA and LMC officials went into a huddle to prepare an action plan. “There are around 200 licensed meat shops in the city presently,” said additional municipal commissioner Santosh Kumar adding that the civic body had so far removed 259 illegal meat shops from residential localities. Stating that the court order only related to illegal meat shops in residential areas, he said, licensed meat shops in commercial localities would not be touched in the drive.
{{/usCountry}}“The problem persists because the shops resurface with the connivance of the policemen of the local ‘thana’,” said another senior LMC officer. In fact, a letter highlighting the nexus was written by the outgoing municipal commissioner to the district magistrate RN Tripathi but nothing happened, he informed to buttress his claim.
LDA Secretary Vijay Yadav also held a meeting with the engineers of the department’s enforcement section to ensure compliance of HC order. “I have told the RBO officials (the enforcement wing) to issue notices to all such unauthorised meat shops in residential colonies,” said Yadav when contacted.
He said LDA would only be focusing on illegal shops leaving it for the LMC to take whatever action it deems fit against the licensed meat shop owners.