Ranchi, February 13 The Jharkhand High Court on Friday stayed the ongoing demolition of houses in Madhukam, within the Sukhdevnagar police station limits in the state capital.
The court of Justice Rajesh Shankar, while hearing a petition filed by Rounak Kumar and other residents of Madhukam, directed the town circle officer not to take any action until the matter remains sub judice before the court.
Kumar, along with other inhabitants, had moved the high court saying their houses were being demolished by the district administration.
The district administration has started an anti-encroachment drive and demolished several structures built on government and municipal land in the capital.
During the drive, bulldozers were used to bring down houses in Madhukam on Ratu Road.
As many as 12 houses have been marked for demolition, which has been challenged before the high court.
Some of the houses have already been partially demolished.
The petitioners pleaded before the court that the land had been purchased by them, which had been duly registered in the registry office in the capital.
The inhabitants had purchased the land at a rate of Rs 5.25 lakh per kattha, after which they constructed their houses, the petitioners claimed.
The court has directed the circle officer not to put pressure on the inhabitants of the area until the matter is pending before the high court.
The case will be heard again on February 27.