Construction illegal, says SC

Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, February 25

The Supreme Court, in its order delivered on February 17 in the ongoing dispute between Sanjay Narang, a close aide of Sachin Tendulkar and Landour Cantonment Board over the allegedly illegal construction at Dahlia Bank cottage, has termed it as illegal.

The double judge bench consisting of Justice Pinaki Chandra Gosh and Ranjan Gogi, in an important judgment, stated that the construction work done by Sanjay Narang at Dahlia Bank was illegal.

The judgment comes in the wake of a writ petition filed by Sanjay Narang, against a High Court decision.

The double bench of the Supreme Court quashed the petition of Sanjay Narang and upheld the High Court decision.

In its decision, it stated that  the construction work being done was illegal under Section 3 Work of Defence Act 2003 as no construction work could be undertaken within 50-metre distance of a defence establishment, in this case, the Institute of Technology and Management, without the permission of the Defence Ministry.

The Landour Cantonment CEO Ajit Reddy welcomed the decision and said the Supreme Court has termed construction of the Dahlia Bank as illegal and has quashed the plea of Sanjay Narang considering all legal aspects. He termed this as victory of truth, saying the decision had paved the way for demolition of the illegally constructed structure at Dahlia Bank.

When contacted, Sanjay Narang and his officials were not available for comments.

Dahlia Bank is the same building where  ace cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, close friend of Sanjay Narang, shifted and cooked for the invited guests while on vacation as he was here to celebrate the new year last December. There is a rumour that the disputed building belongs to Sachin Tendulkar, but there is no mention of this in officials records, which show Sanjay Narang to be the owner.