Prayagraj Court Halts Work After 151 Advocate Chambers Demolished
Early Morning Demolition Triggers Unrest
The Prayagraj Municipal Corporation (PMC) demolished 151 temporary chambers of advocates on Wednesday. These structures stood illegally along roads near the Collectorate and district court. The demolition began at 4 am and lasted for 90 minutes.
A joint team of PMC staff, police, and administration officials led the drive. They also razed six roadside kiosks. The authorities used JCB machines to remove the encroachments.
Last week, PMC had issued eviction notices to the advocates. Officials pasted the notices on the chambers. However, the advocates did not comply by the Tuesday deadline. The PMC responded by executing the demolition early the next morning.
Judicial Work Comes to a Standstill
The District Advocates Association called for a complete boycott of judicial work. Courtrooms remained shut. Roads near the court stayed blocked due to the debris.
Lawyers began protesting soon after the demolition. They pelted stones, damaged PMC vehicles, and vandalized the municipal zonal office in Katra. The protestors also blocked the main road outside the court.
These actions disrupted administrative work at the Collectorate throughout the day. Security forces, including police and RAF units, arrived to maintain law and order.
Encroachment Removal Not Limited to Court
This demolition follows another drive outside the Allahabad High Court flyover. On Monday, PMC removed similar encroachments in that area. The campaign aims to clear public spaces and ease traffic congestion.
During Wednesday’s operation, only officials were allowed in the area. They also suspended vehicle movement between 4 am and 5:30 am.
Lawyers Demand Permanent Chambers
Around 12 noon, advocates ended the road blockade. Later in the day, a delegation of current and former association leaders met PMC officials.
The talks lasted for about an hour. Officials agreed to propose a new building for advocate chambers. The site lies in front of the SSP office.
District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Mandar promised to clear the debris by Thursday morning. This would help resume normal vehicle movement.