Civilians evicted from shops in Chandimandir

Tribune news service

Chandigarh, February 25

In compliance with the judgement of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Station Headquarters Chandimandir has evicted civilian occupants of 13 shops in the military station in the presence of police authorities.

The High Court, in its judgement of February 10, had ruled that the notices to vacate the shops issued on April 30, 2019, were in accordance with law and thus the writ petitions of all 16 shopkeepers challenging the notices were bereft of merit.

According to a Ministry of Defence policy, commercial shops located in military stations are to be given out to widows of armed forces personnel, disabled soldiers and ex-servicemen of their spouses, who will now be able to get the benefit.

A few shopkeepers had themselves surrendered the shops following the High Court orders. The belongings of those who refused to abide by the court ruling were packed, marked and segregated under supervision by a board of officers as per the standing operating procedures of the Army.

The local police extended its assistance to the military authorities to ensure that the entire exercise was conducted peacefully.