Srinagar: On Thursday, as Badami Bagh Cantonment Board in Zabarwan Colony, Sonawar, area of Srinagar began a demolition drive, which the residents are already opposing, was halted after National Conference legislator Ahsan Pardesi protested against the move.
Pardesi, representing the Lal Chowk Assembly segment, opposed the razing of a structure he claimed belonged to a family residing there for over eight decades, calling the action unjust and in violation of a court order.
The legislator sat in front of a JCB machine, vehemently opposing the Board’s attempt to raze a structure that, he claimed, belongs to a local family that has resided in the area for over eight decades.
Pardesi told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that the matter is sub judice and called for adherence to the court’s directive to maintain the status quo.
“The authorities must respect the legal process. Demolishing this house would be unjust and disregard the ongoing judicial proceedings,” he added.
Earlier in the day, a team from the Badami Bagh Cantonment Board arrived at Zabarwan Colony, equipped with machinery, to demolish what they alleged to be an illegally constructed residential structure.
However, the move was met with resistance from the locals and the legislator, resulting in the drive being temporarily stalled. The Cantonment Board has been firm in its stance against “unauthorised constructions” within its jurisdiction, citing regulatory compliance as the primary motive behind such actions. However, residents argue that the structure in question has existed for generations and should not be deemed illegal.
