Demolition in Nepali Nagar: HC orders interim compensation for razed houses

The Patna High Court on Thursday termed the demolition of houses in Nepali Nagar in western part of the state capital last year as illegal and directed the state government to pay ₹5 lakh compensation each to house owners whose constructions were demolished. Citing reports that those who have applied for ex gratia amount under the Digha Land Settlement Scheme, 2014 are being kept in a limbo by the state’s Housing Board, the court said, “The Housing Board is directed to take a decision on all such pending applications within one month from today.” The HC said it was apparent that “for the last 30 years, when the Housing Board has been in possession of the area of 400 acres in Nepali Nagar, illegal constructions have been allowed to be made, but not even a whisper was made in the counter affidavit filed on behalf of the state and the Housing Board as to what action has been taken against the board officials and the police officials of Rajeev Nagar Police Station for allowing this”. On July 3 last year, the district administration and police had carried a massive eviction drive to raze down 70 dwellings in Nepali Nagar which were allegedly built on land belonging to the state housing board. The demolition drive carried in July last year was evict people from around 40 acres of land, which, the government claims, belongs to the state housing board.