High Court Halts Controversial Demolition in Nagpur

The Nagpur Municipal Corporation's demolition of Yusuf Sheikh's house was halted by the High Court. Ayaz Sheikh claims the action was vengeful, despite having proper documentation. The incident follows communal violence linked to misinformation during VHP protests. Court intervention saved the property from further damage.

The Nagpur Municipal Corporation's decision to demolish part of Yusuf Sheikh's house has come under scrutiny after the Bombay High Court intervened to halt the process. The demolition, which targeted the residence's balcony for being 'unauthorized', was labeled by Ayaz Sheikh as an act of 'revenge'.

Although the authorities flattened another structure related to communal violence, the intervention spared Sheikh's property in the Mahal Gate area. Ayaz Sheikh insisted his family had no involvement in the riots and had legal ownership since the 1970s, criticizing the NMC for disregarding valid building documents.

The controversy emerged after misinformation led to communal unrest in Nagpur, sparked by protests over the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb. The High Court's punishment of civic officials highlights the tense atmosphere and the delicate intersection of legal procedures and social harmony in the region.

(With inputs from agencies.)