HC Orders Demolition of Encroachment on Road, Slaps Rs5 Lakh Fine on Developer
Nirmal Ujjwal Credit Co-operative Society
to demolish
illegal constructions
—including a substation, transformer, and water treatment plant — erected on a 24-metre-wide Development Plan (DP) road in a township at mouza Harpur on Umred Road. The court also imposed a Rs5 lakh fine, directing it be paid to Raman Science Centre and Planetarium within one week.
A division bench comprising justices Avinash Gharote and Abhay Mantri was hearing a petition filed by local resident Pranali Puttewar. The court found that despite the society's undertaking in 2019 to remove the encroachments, it failed to act, in violation of prior directives and land-use laws.
Rejecting arguments that the structures served residents and involved no commercial exploitation, the court held that construction on land earmarked as a public road under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act cannot be justified or regularised without a formal modification of the development plan.
The bench cited the 2017 demolition notice issued by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and emphasised that the society knowingly encroached on land meant for public use. It further dismissed the society's reliance on the Gunthewari Act, ruling that the layout approvals were not granted under its provisions.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here]
Esseps
Learn More
Undo
The court concluded that allowing such encroachments would set a dangerous precedent, undermining urban planning. It directed that the illegal structures be removed within four months, with Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) providing assistance. Should the society fail to act, the NMC must carry out the demolition within a reasonable time thereafter.
"We cannot condone the illegality committed by the society of making illegal construction of substation/transformer/water treatment plant on the land of 24 meters wide DP road, as it would be setting an absolutely bad precedent, on the basis of which, builders would have a free hand to present a fait accompli, after having committed an illegality," the judges said while allowing the petition.
High Court Ruling – Key Points
- Nirmal Ujjwal Credit Co-operative Society ordered to demolish illegal structures on 24-metre DP road
- Structures include electric substation, transformer, water treatment plant
- Rs5 lakh fine imposed; to be paid to Raman Science Centre within one week
- Demolition within four months at society's cost
- MSEDCL to assist in removing electrical infrastructure
- If society fails, NMC will carry out demolition
- Court rejects justification citing public benefit
- Gunthewari Act defence dismissed, no approvals granted
- Encroachments condemned as 'bad precedent'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Public outcry doesn't lessen seriousness of offence: Delhi HC
Public outcry and media coverage do not lessen the seriousness of an offence, the Delhi High Court has said while denying bail to a man accused of raping and murdering his eight-year-old cousin. (HT Archive) The man was booked under various provisions of Indian Penal Code including murder, kidnapping, and Section 6 (penetrative sexual assault) of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, 2012. The FIR, filed in 2016, was based on a complaint by the victim's father, who reported that his daughter had been abducted while playing outside their home. Police learned that the accused had raped the girl, strangled her, concealed her body in a plastic bag, and buried it in a pit. In his bail petition, the man said he was falsely implicated in the case under public pressure and glare of media trial. He said he had already spent more than nine years in jail and there was no likelihood of the trial to conclude in the near future. The Delhi police, represented by additional public prosecutor Amit Ahlawat, said there had been no delay in trial and four out of 20 witnesses had supported prosecution's case. The complainant's lawyer opposed the bail asserting that the accused's family members had been threatening him. Rejecting the man's contention, justice Girish Kathpalia in his ruling delivered on Friday, said , 'The broad picture recorded above shows the gruesome manner in which an eight-year-old girl was raped and killed, that too by her own cousin. Merely because there was public outcry and media coverage of the incident, gravity of offence does not get diminished.' In its five-page ruling, the judge said the man exploited the relationship of trust between the cousins in a 'brutal manner.' 'One also cannot ignore that a relationship of trust between the cousins was exploited by the accused/applicant and in such a brutal manner,' the court said.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Kerala Nuns Get Bail In Chhattisgarh 'Conversion, Trafficking' Case
Last Updated: After reviewing the evidence and arguments, the NIA court found grounds to grant conditional bail A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, has granted conditional bail to Sister Sujata and Sister Anisha, two Catholic nuns from Kerala, along with Santosh Baghel, a tribal youth from Chhattisgarh. Their arrest had previously sparked controversy and allegations of political grandstanding, particularly surrounding issues of religious conversions and communal tensions in the region. The trio was apprehended in mid-July following complaints of forced religious conversions among tribal communities in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region. The case, filed under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), prompted outrage from Christian organisations and human rights activists, who argued that the arrests were baseless and politically motivated. Critics claimed that certain factions were exploiting controversial anti-conversion laws to target missionaries and tribal individuals. After reviewing the evidence and arguments, the NIA court found grounds to grant conditional bail. Although the specific conditions were not immediately disclosed, they typically include restrictions such as not leaving the district without court permission, cooperating with the investigation, and avoiding tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses. The granting of bail indicates that the court did not find sufficient prima facie evidence to justify their continued incarceration for terror-related offences or recognised the potential for undue hardship due to the nature of the accusations. Conditional bail was granted to three people in the case, defence lawyer Amrito Das confirmed, according to a report by PTI. Speaking with the news agency, petitioner's advocate B Gopakumar said some bail conditions were also put up, including that, 'they will not be able to go abroad, they will have to surrender the passport, they should not influence the witness." view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
UT cyber police recover just ₹15cr of ₹95cr cheated in online frauds over 2 yrs
1 2 Chandigarh: In a span of two years, the UT cyber police registered 257 FIRs related to online frauds involving more than Rs 95 crore. Despite arresting 200 cyber fraudsters between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2025, the police managed to recover only slightly over Rs 15 crore of the cheated amount. This significant gap between the total fraud and the recovered sum underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement in tackling digital crimes. Cyber police officials and experts attribute the low recovery rate to two major factors. First, victims often delay reporting the fraud, which drastically reduces the chances of freezing unauthorised transactions. Second, fraudsters typically transfer the stolen money into multiple fake accounts, making it difficult for investigators to trace and intercept the funds before they are withdrawn. Cyber expert Gurcharan Singh emphasised the importance of timely reporting, stating, "Reporting cyber fraud as soon as possible increases the chances of recovering cheated money or freezing unauthorised transactions. In most cases, victims failed to report the online cheating within 24 hours. Sometimes people also come to know about the fraud after two or three days." He added that by the time police reach the final account in the transaction chain, the money is often already spent. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is this legal? Access all TV channels without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo This data was disclosed by the cyber police in response to an RTI filed by R K Garg, founder and president of the Second Innings Association, an organisation working for senior citizens in the Tricity. Garg pointed out that the cyber cell suffers from a lack of technically qualified personnel, inadequate staffing, outdated equipment, and insufficient support from the banking system. Even after transactions are frozen, victims face long delays in getting their money back due to complex banking procedures and legal formalities. Over the two-year period, the cyber police received between 500 to 850 complaints each month, amounting to roughly 21,000 complaints in total. Monthly fraud amounts ranged from Rs 1 crore to Rs 6.5 crore. A significant portion of these financial losses stemmed from investment frauds and digital arrest scams. In 2025 alone, Chandigarh reported eight cases of digital arrest scams, matching the total number from the previous year. Most of the victims were retired army officers. Among the most distressing cases was that of 82-year-old retired Indian Army officer Colonel Dalip Singh Bajwa and his 74-year-old wife Ranvinder Kaur Bajwa, who were scammed out of Rs 3.41 crore. In another incident, retired Colonel Harmohinder Singh Puri from Sector 34 was threatened with a money laundering case and warned of imminent arrest. In a bid to prove his innocence, he transferred Rs 36 lakh via RTGS to an ICICI Bank account. Cyber experts and victims have called for the establishment of special cyber courts, similar to those operated by the CBI and NIA, along with the appointment of dedicated cyber prosecutors to expedite justice in such cases. Despite the challenges, R K Garg commended the cyber police for their efforts in raising awareness. He acknowledged their initiatives through social media, seminars in schools and colleges, and special campaigns aimed at educating residents about emerging cyber fraud trends. The cyber police emphasised that awareness remains the most effective tool against online fraud. They continue to issue advisories and conduct city-wide drives to inform citizens about the latest cybercrime tactics and the precautions they should take. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
