Clear roads of stray cattle, encroachments: Supreme Court orders civic bodies

The Supreme Court on Tuesday declared a state of "total anarchy" on public roads, directing all states and union territories to ensure public spaces and thoroughfares are free of stray cattle and encroachments. A bench of justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan expressed shock at the alarming state of public land encroachment and the inability of vehicles to move freely due to stray animals.

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There is total anarchy on the roads. Rules are not being followed. The state of affairs of encroachment of public land is not only shocking but alarming.

The court ordered civic agencies to take time-bound action and submit reports detailing steps taken against those misusing building bye-laws. It warned that failure to comply could lead to perjury proceedings, emphasizing that officials might face such charges if their claims of compliance are found to be false. The court noted that many states had not filed adequate compliance reports.

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We will see if your areas are encroachment-free. Even vehicles on roads are unable to move freely due to stray cattle. We direct all public areas to be kept free of stray animals as per law. This order shall apply to all public areas across the country.

Senior advocate Ajit Kumar Sinha, assisting the court as amicus curiae, highlighted that several states and civic bodies had not submitted required reports. The bench also cited a news report indicating 93% of buildings in Gurugram lack fire clearance, questioning the authorities' actions. Gurugram officials present in court assured that action against illegal constructions and encroachments would be completed within four weeks.

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This is shocking. What are the authorities doing about it?

The court expanded the scope of a Tamil Nadu case to include civic bodies in major state capitals like Delhi, Lucknow, and Kolkata. In Lucknow, where a fire at a coaching center previously claimed 15 lives, officials reported suspending several individuals and issuing notices to 51 properties for misuse of residential premises for commercial purposes. The court cautioned that it would summon chief secretaries of defaulting states if they continued to take the court for granted.

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Do you want this court to prod you on such an important matter. We will send a team to verify your claims. If we find your statement to be wrong, you will face perjury proceedings. We know all this is due to collusion of officials.