Panel issues directions against erecting barricades on roads

Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 4

The Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) authorities have once again cut a sorry figure for failure to enforce the rule of the law in their own colonies. On a complaint against installation of illegal gates and then putting up barricades on roads and in streets at Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar Colony on Pakhowal Road, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) has issued directions to the Director, Local Bodies, Punjab, Chandigarh, to take action in this matter as per the law. The PSHRC has also told the Director to submit an action taken report (ATR) before next date of hearing of the complaint.

Next date of hearing August 17

Japnam Singh, president, SBS Nagar RWA, Block-E, stated that due to Covid-19 pandemic most residential localities were regulating the entry of outsiders. Therefore, the association also deemed fit to put temporary barricades at entry points of interior roads to regulate the entry of outsiders/strangers, he added. He claimed that there were written instructions from the police to close all entry gates permanently and keep open only one gate manned by security guards for use of residents.

Arvind Sharma, a resident of E-block of the colony had filed a complaint with the PSHRC alleging that after installing illegal gates at various entry/exit points of the colony, now barricades were being put on several main and feeder roads, which were causing inconvenience to residents and other visitors to the colony.

He had also charged LIT officials with inaction on repeated representations made against the illegal act of certain residents of the colony with the tacit approval of the resident welfare association.

In the orders passed on the complaint (3495/10/2020) on May 28, 2020, the PSHRC noted that the complainant had alleged that LIT allowed illegal installation of gates on roads. Now they were putting barricades on roads in the colony, the orders further stated. The complainant further claimed that the matter was reported to the higher authorities of LIT but no action was taken.

The PSHRC ruled, “On consideration of the allegations in the complaint, the commission deems it appropriate to send a copy of the order along with a copy of the complaint to the Director, Local Bodies, Punjab, Chandigarh, to look into and dispose of the complaint at his end in accordance with the law. The action taken report be sent to this commission before the next date of hearing. Thereupon further action, if any, would be taken by the commission.”

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