SC refuses to hear plea against demolition of lawyers’ chambers near Lucknow court

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a plea challenging an order related to the demolition of lawyers’ chambers allegedly constructed by encroaching on public land near the Lucknow District Court complex.

“The demolition has to take place,” a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said.

After the bench showed disinclination to entertain the plea, the counsel for the petitioner withdrew it.

“I have seen it myself. I was there for two years as a senior judge. I know what kind of constructions are there,” Justice Nath, who had earlier served as a judge of the Allahabad High Court, said.

The petitioner’s counsel suggested that the matter be referred to mediation.

The bench, which refused to refer the matter to mediation, permitted the counsel to withdraw the plea, which challenged an August 4 order of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court.