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HIGH COURT OF DELHI
JUDGMENT
ANJU BALA & ANR. ….. Petitioners
…..Respondents
For the Petitioner: Mr. Abhishek Rana, Advocate.
Advocates who appeared in this case:
For the Respondent: Mr. Rajan Tyagi & Mr. Umang Tyagi, Advocates for EDMC/R-1.
Exemption is allowed subject to all just exceptions.
1. The hearing was conducted through video conferencing. W.P.(C) 1657/2021 & CM APPL.4739/2021(stay)
2. Petitioners impugn order/letter dated 06.01.2021 whereby petitioners have been directed to remove the alleged illegal structure from the land in question within one month from the receipt of the notice. 2021:DHC:441 W.P(C) 1657/2021 Page 2
3. Order dated 06.01.2021 states that the same is in compliance of directions contained in order dated 26.08.2019 in WP(C) 2365/2016 of the High Court.
4. Learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioners contends that petitioners has been in occupation of the subject land for several decades. He further submits that by order dated 26.08.2019 in WP(C) 2365/2016, the Division Bench of this Court had directed the respondents to remove the encroachment in accordance with Law, Rules, Regulations and Government Policy, after giving adequate opportunity of being heard to the owners/occupiers of the superstructure.
5. Learned Senior Counsel submits though a show-cause notice was issued which was duly replied to, no hearing was afforded to the petitioners.
6. Issue notice. Notice is accepted by learned counsel appearing for the respondents.
7. Learned counsel appearing for the respondents, under instructions, submits that the subject orders deal with the contentions of the petitioners as stated in their replies, however he concedes that no personal hearing was granted to the petitioners.
8. In view of the above, without commenting on the merits of the order, since no personal hearing has been granted to the petitioners which was mandated by order dated 26.08.2019 in WP(C) 2365/2016, W.P(C) 1657/2021 Page 3 the impugned order is set aside.
9. The matter is remitted to the respondents for granting a hearing to Petitioners consequent to the show-cause notice issued to them and thereafter to pass a fresh order.
10. It is expected that the proceedings shall be finalized by the respondents expeditiously, preferably within a period of three weeks from today.
11. All rights and contentions of the parties are reserved.
12. Petition along with pending applications are disposed of in the above terms.
13. Copy of the Order be uploaded on the High Court website and be also forwarded to learned counsels through email by the Court Master.
SANJEEV SACHDEVA, J. FEBRUARY 08, 2021 ak