The Jharkhand High Court on Thursday put a stay on the order of Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) to demolish business establishments, houses including Nagarmal Modi Seva Sadan Hospital at Upper Bazar area till the formation of the Appellate Authority.
The State Government has been directed to make the appellate authority functional within a week. The divisional bench of Jharkhand High Court comprising High Court Chief Justice, Dr Ravi Ranjan and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad after hearing the petition asked the State Government to constitute an appellate authority, while staying the demolition plan of Civic body.
A PIL was filed on behalf of the Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI). Senior advocate Anil Sinha, appearing for the chamber, informed the court that the corporation’s action is against the rules.
The corporation is giving notice of demolition of buildings and houses by citing the order of the High Court. The court also expressed displeasure over the RMC move. The HC asked corporation’s advocate LCA Shahdeo whether the court has issued any order for the demolition of buildings.
The HC order has come as a big relief for residents of Upper Bazar and Sewa Sadan administration. It may be noted that recently, Ranchi Municipal Commissioner has ordered the demolition of the 63-year-old health hub Sewa Sadan.
The Sewa Sadan management had said that this order of the Municipal Commissioner is wrong. It will be challenged in the High Court. The hospital management also stated that the map of Sewa Sadan building was passed by RDA in 1980. It has been presented before the corporation, but the municipal commissioner is not accepting the map.
The hospital management has also clarified that the Municipal Commissioner cannot order not to admit
patients. Any patient who comes, he will be admitted if necessary. The hospital cannot return a patient.
On the other hand, Ranchi Municipal Commissioner Mukesh Kumar had said in a press conference that Seva Sadan has been built by illegal construction. Not only Seva Sadan, but all such buildings of the capital will be demolished.
On Wednesday, State BJP unit, Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth and RMC deputy mayor Sanjeev Vijayvargiya jumped in defense of the hospital.
Seth termed the Civic body decision to demolish the health hub as ‘Tughlaqi’ farman. Seth said that the Sewa Sadan at Upper Bazar is rendering medical service to people of Capital before the existence of Ranchi Municipal Corporation.
Even ruling party legislators have opposed the demolition of Sewa Sadan. Congress Legislator from Mahagama Deepika Pandey Singh welcomed the decision of Jharkhand High Court to put a stay on RMC order.
She said the Jharkhand High Court has put an interim stay on the decision of Ranchi Municipal Corporation to demolish Sewa Sadan Hospital as well as other buildings, shops in the name of faulty maps.
This decision of Ranchi Municipal Corporation has agitated the people of not only Ranchi but, entire Jharkhand because Ranchi Municipal Corporation, which is occupied by BJP Mayor and Deputy Mayor, is bent on demolishing old hospital. The manner in which the Municipal Corporation has made Ranchi ugly in the name of improving Ranchi infrastructure especially in the last five years, the office-bearers of the Corporation and its high-ranking public representatives will also have to answer to the public.