Shaheen Bagh: SC declines to entertain plea against anti-encroachment drive, tells CPI(M) to approach HC

A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and B R Gavai asked the party to approach the Delhi High Court. "Why is CPI(M) filing a petition? What is the fundamental right that is being violated? Not at the behest of political parties. This is not the platform. You go to the high court," the bench said. The top court said if hawkers are encroaching, they will be removed and in case there is any violation of law by authorities, the petitioner can go to the High Court.

The Supreme Court Monday refused to entertain a plea filed by CPI(M) against the demolition drive in Shaheen Bagh in Delhi, saying it cannot interfere with the anti-encroachment drive at the instance of a political party.

SC refuses to entertain CPI (M) plea against demolition of buildings in South Delhi's Shaheen Bagh area; grants liberty to petitioner to approach High Court. The court told petitioner to "better" approach High Court in connection with CPI (M) plea against demolition of buildings in South Delhi's Shaheen Bagh area; adds, "Let the affected parties come to court."

Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta criticised the Congress and AAP for "opposing anti encroachment drive" in Shaheen Bagh. "Today it's proved that AAP and it's MLAs are supporting Rohingyas and Bangladeshis. Those who are lying before bulldozers will be given a reply by the people. It's unfortunate that AAP and Congress are opposing removal of encroachment in Shaheen Bagh. I urge AAP and Congress not to link encroachment with religion," he said.

Delhi Congress leaders, including party's media cell vice chairman Parvez Alam, were among those detained by the police.

The illegal encroachment, an iron structure in front of a building, was manually removed by the people even as a JCB bulldozer stood by during the proposed demolition drive in the Shaheen Bagh area of the national capital on Monday. The locals said that the iron structure installed in front of the building was not an illegal encroachment. "It has been installed for the renovation of the building," said one of the local residents.

Bulldozers leave Shaheen Bagh area after massive protests by locals. Congress and AAP leaders also joined the locals to protest against the civic body's action against illegal constructions.

 Leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress also reached the spot and staged dharna against the action.

SDMC's Central Zone Chairman Rajpal Singh told PTI that the illegal structures could not be removed due to protests. "Protests being held are politically-motivated. We will do whatever we have to remove encroachment. Our bulldozers and trucks are still there (in Shaheen Bagh)," Singh told PTI.

The protest caused heavy traffic snarls in Shaheen Bagh, Kalindi Kunj, Jaitpur, Sarita Vihar and Mathura Road among other areas after locals protested in Shaheen Bagh opposing the SDMC's anti-encroachment drive.

The SDMC has prepared a 10-day action plan to remove encroachment from these areas, including Shaheen Bagh. On May 10, the drive is slated to be conducted near the Gurudwara Road near New Friends Colony. On May 11, it will be conducted in Meharchand Market, Lodhi Colony near Sai Baba Mandir and near JLN Metro station.

Senior police officials were also present at the spot along with their personnel to provide security to SDMC officials carrying out the anti-encroachment drive in the area. "Police personnel have been deployed at the spot where the anti-encroachment drive is being carried out. This is being done to ensure that the concerned civic bodies can carry out their work without any hassle and with all safety," a senior police official told PTI.

Shaheen Bagh that falls under the central zone of SDMC, was the centre of protests and sit-ins against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in December 2019. The sit-in was called off in March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic had struck the city.

Protesters raised slogans against the BJP-ruled South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) as well as the central government and demanded to stop the action.

Supreme Court agrees to hear today at 2pm, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) plea against the demolition of buildings in the South Delhi's Shaheen Bagh area

Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Okhla, Amanatullah Khan, who was also present at the site, accused the BJP of disturning peace and creating enmity. He said that the saffron party is targeting a particular community and went on to claim that there was no encroachment in the area. He added that "people have already removed encroachments on my request. 'Wazu khana' & toilets outside a mosque here were removed in presence of police, earlier. When there are no encroachments, why have they come here? Just to do politics?".

AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan joins the protest at Shaheen Bagh amid the anti-encroachment drive.

Locals sit on roads and stop bulldozers that have been brought for the anti-encroachment drive in the Shaheen Bagh area.

Municipality will do its work; our workers & officials are ready, teams & bulldozers have been organized. Encroachments will be removed wherever they are,be it in Tughlakabad, Sangam Vihar, New Friends Colony or Shaheen Bagh: Rajpal, Chairman standing committee, SDMC central zone

Protests erupted in Shaheen Bagh ahead of an anti-encroachment drive on Monday as hundreds of people including women started dharna in the area as soon as the SDMC officials reached the spot with bulldozers to carry out the exercise.