Udaipur, December 4 (Udaipur Kiran): The Udaipur Municipal Corporation has come under the shadow of contempt of court for failing to act on an illegal five-storey Musafirkhana constructed in Bohrwadi, near Wazirpura Mosque. Despite clear directions from the High Court to dispose of the matter within one and a half months, no concrete action has been taken for nearly a year. The Corporation will now have to submit its reply before the High Court on Thursday.
According to the case details, a complaint regarding the illegal Musafirkhana was filed by Daudi Bohra community member Altaf Hussain on August 7 last year. The encroachment branch issued a notice on November 25 seeking documents within three days. The very next day, construction permission was produced by the community, but subsequent verification revealed that the approval was for construction at a different location, not the site where the Musafirkhana was built. At the approved site, only a wall was found. Following this, the construction permission was cancelled. Despite this, no action was taken against the illegal structure.
Aggrieved by inaction, Altaf Hussain approached the High Court against the Principal Secretary of the Local Self Government Department, the Director of Local Bodies, the Municipal Commissioner and the District Collector. The High Court directed the Municipal Corporation to take a legal decision on the complaint within six weeks.
Even after the court order, the encroacher did not present any valid documents. Due to continued non-compliance, a contempt petition was filed, following which the High Court issued notice. Only four days ago, on November 30, the Corporation pasted a notice on the building directing the occupants to submit documents or vacate the premises within 24 hours, failing which the building would be sealed. However, neither evacuation nor sealing was carried out.
In response, the society’s secretary claimed that the building was purchased on January 28, 2002, and no new construction had been carried out. He stated that the structure is about 25 years old and that this has also been accepted by the inquiry committee. Terming the proposed action as unjust, he sought one month’s time from the Corporation to present his case and also expressed willingness to deposit regularisation charges.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
