Frame policy to curb encroachments: Gujarat HC to government

The state government will have to come out with a comprehensive policy to curb the menace of encroachment on public roads in the state following a directive from the Gujarat high court on the issue.

A division bench of the court, comprising chief justice SJ Mukhopadhaya and justice MS Shah, issued this order on Wednesday while taking serious note of the ignorance of the state government over the encroachment issue which is disturbing public life and the city’s transport system.

The directive stemmed out of a Public Interest litigation (PIL) filed by the residents of a society in Sabarmati, the bench said.

The Ahmedabad municipal commissioner and the secretary have to discuss the matter with the government to frame a specific policy about encroachment-free roads, the courts said. The government should hold accountable the officers of the civic body and police under whose jurisdiction encroachment takes place.

The bench also noted the inconsiderate attitude of the state government by observing that the latter gets up only after the encroachment comes up and then it start initiatives to remove it.

It is the premier responsibility of the government to ensure that no illegal developments occur in the future. The court has kept a further hearing next month.