Survey to identify illegal guest houses: Hry to HC

CHANDIGARH: Less than a month after the Punjab and Haryana High Court took cognisance of a petition seeking action, including demolition, against illegal guest houses in and around the Morni area, a Division Bench was today told that a survey would be conducted for the purpose.

Residents say guest houses are vitiating the atmosphere of villages.

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 29

Less than a month after the Punjab and Haryana High Court took cognisance of a petition seeking action, including demolition, against illegal guest houses in and around the Morni area, a Division Bench was today told that a survey would be conducted for the purpose.

Appearing before the Division Bench of Chief Justice Krishna Murari and Justice Arun Palli, Haryana Additional Advocate-General Deepak Balyan submitted that the survey would be carried out to identify properties being run illegally -- without permission or in violation of the provisions of law.

Balyan also sought eight-week additional time for the purpose of completing the survey. Taking a note of the developments, the Bench fixed April 22 as the next date of hearing in the matter.

The developments took place on a petition filed against the state of Haryana and 20 other respondents by Yad Ram and other petitioners through counsel SS Salar. Describing the illegal guest houses as a “den for illegal, inappropriate and immoral activities”, the petitioners had alleged that these guest houses were vitiating the atmosphere of tiny villages around the area.

Salar asserted that the petitioners were living in villages, which were aloof from development in and around Chandigarh. Despite modern city surroundings, the villages more or less remained traditional with residents sticking to old values.

In flagrant violation/abuse of Acts and Rules framed to protect roads from being congested and for “preserving land”, many hotels, bars, dhabas and guest houses had came up. The petitioners added: “Since the past year and a half, the rules and regulations are not being enforced, either on account of negligence or connivance. Hundreds of guest houses and hotels have come up on this road and other roads where illegal activities are rampant.”

They added that teenage couples were visiting the hotels and guest houses on an hourly basis in “scanty dresses” and in an inebriated condition. They openly took intoxicants even while on the roads.

Referring to the “infamous rape case” involving 40 people in a guest house, the petitioners added that even the police were not responsive. “When there is a brawl or suspicious activity, the police are called, but there is no response. The police intentionally reach the spot after considerable time of two to three hours after the call,” they added.