High Court Criticizes Lucknow Anti-Encroachment Protest by Lawyers

The Allahabad High Court has set a new hearing date for June 8 in response to the ongoing unrest surrounding lawyers' protests against anti-encroachment measures outside the Civil Court complex in Lucknow. This decision follows the court's expression of dissatisfaction with the conduct of certain advocates during the operation.

The lawyers' protests gained attention after a video surfaced showing them distributing batons amidst the demolition drive led by the Lucknow Municipal Corporation. The court cautioned the protesters, questioning whether their actions intended to thwart lawful administrative functions.

The demolition, aimed at removing illegal structures, faced significant resistance, with only a fraction successfully dismantled. The municipal authorities attributed the limited progress to obstruction by advocates at the scene. Despite claims that demolitions lacked proper verification, the court clarified that any accidental damages, like a shop affected during the process, were being resolved, assuring that relocations and compensations were underway. The court stressed the urgency to clear encroachments, highlighting a case where ambulance services were disrupted, tragically resulting in a patient's death.

As the situation unfolds, Senior advocates H.G.S. Parihar and Anand Mani Tripathi, alongside Oudh Bar Association president S. Chandra, are contributing their expertise to the proceedings. The court has invited further affidavits and applications ahead of the next hearing as it continues to seek a resolution.

(With inputs from agencies.)