The Supreme Court Friday issued notice to the central and state governments and union territories administrations on a PIL seeking to identify all public roads, footpaths, streets, lanes which have been encroached upon and to remove these in accordance with law.
A bench of Chief Justice R.M.Lodha, Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman issued notice on the plea by Dhanesh Ieshdhan seeking direction to the states to take appropriate steps to assist the civic administration to clear encroachment from all such public places or areas and to maintain law and order at the time of removal of such encroachments.
The petitioner has also sought registration of criminal cases against the offenders who create "such a feral and hurtful condition" for the general public on such public places.
The petitioner has also sought direction for the formulation of a policy to check and eliminate public nuisance by way of an open violation of various provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act as well as various sections of the Indian Penal Code by creating obstructions on the public places like footpaths, lanes, sub-lanes, streets, roads etc.
He has contended the encroachment of public places is a source of disturbance and annoyance for the public.