Hearing on a special leave petition filed by Dehradun resident Suneeta, the Supreme Court on Wednesday modified the Uttarakhand High Court orders regarding the removal of encroachments in Dehradun. The SC stated, “We are really not concerned with the general directions given by the High Court. However, we are inclined to modify the order passed by the High Court to the extent that the competent authority of Nagar Nigam, Dehradun shall issue appropriate notices to the unauthorised encroachers and follow the due procedure and thereafter evict them if they are found to have encroached. The show cause notices shall be issued within three weeks from today and reply to the same shall be filed within three weekstherefrom and the decision shall be taken thereon within four weeks. Till the decision is taken by the competent authority, status quo, obtaining as on today, shall remain in force. Our direction shall apply in respect of all the encroachers as there has to be removal of encroachments after following the principle of natural justice unless it is on a public road. Our direction shall only apply to the encroachments which had been existing earlier. If there is any kind of encroachment after the order of the High Court, the same shall be removed after giving 24 hours notice,” the SC stated.