The Indian Express            26.11.2013 

Prevent any encroachment on govt land, Mohali DC tells officials

In a meeting with the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), municipal corporation (MC) and police authorities, Deputy Commissioner Tejinderpal Singh Sidhu on Monday directed the officials to prevent the residents of the recently demolished Colony no. 5 to set up camp on the government land in Mohali.

The DC issued strict instructions to the authorities concerned to prevent any encroachment on the government land in the district.

Ever since the day the demolition started, police and GMADA personnel have been deployed at the entry points of the town to prevent the colony residents to enter Mohali with their belongings.

"Unless they convince us that they have a place to stay or they have rented a room in the village, we do not allow the colony residents who are carrying their luggage, to enter the village," said a GMADA security guard posted outside Jagatpura village.

However, the move was criticised by some quarters of the public. "It is illegal to stop anyone's free movement inside the country. The government can only stop these people when they encroach or build their huts on a government land. Otherwise, even when they are carrying along their belongings, they have a right to enter any city. The High Court should take suo motu cognizance of this violation of a basic human right," said B C Saini, an advocate.

Another lawyer, H S Hundal, echoed the sentiment, saying, "In Mohali, political bigwigs and other influential people have grabbed shamlat lands worth crores. But when it comes to these people who were rendered homeless within a day, the district authorities want to prevent encroachment. It is unfair, and undemocratic."