The Pioneer 28.10.2010
HC asks for explanation over demolition of Clock TowerPNS | Mussoorie
The High Court has taken serious cognisance of the unauthorised constructions in Mussoorie and the demolition of the historic Clock Tower there. A joint bench consisting of judges Tarun Agrawal and VK Bisht has directed the Mussoorie municipal council chairman and executive officer to submit their explanation within four weeks from October 20.
This directive was given during the hearing of the public interest litigation filed by Anil Goyal in which he has alleged irregularities in the issuing of work tenders in the Mussoorie municipal council. While presiding over the hearing of the case, the judges considered the media reports on the demolition of the historical Clock Tower in Mussoorie by the municipal authority. This heritage building was destroyed without the cause being justified and being approved by the public.
The judges also considered the proposed buildings to be constructed in place of the Clock Tower in Mussoorie before issuing a notice to the municipal council chairman and executive officer to submit their explanation for these actions within four weeks time period. It is pertinent to mention that the buildings proposed to be constructed in place of the Clock Tower include another Clock Tower and a multi-purpose auditorium but neither of these proposals has elicited the approval of the majority of either the public or elected public representatives till date. The order of the High Court elicited the opposition of municipal council employees who boycotted work for a day and tried to prevent the board meeting from being held.
The employees allowed the meeting to be held after municipal council chairman OP Uniyal informed them about the need for holding the board meet in time for the reply to be submitted to the High Court.
When the board meeting started, nominated member and petitioner Anil Goyal reached the board room but the chairman OP Uniyal was angered by this and told him to get out alleging that by filing a PIL against the municipal council, he had attacked the prestige of the municipal body. However, Goyal said that he had been nominated a member of the municipal board by the Government and would leave the meeting only if the executive officer issued an order in writing directing him to do so. After this the chairman and some board members went to the room of the chairman where the board meeting was held behind closed doors.
Goyal alleged that the chairman had created the scene in order to affect the proceedings of the High Court.
