Allahabad High orders removal of illegal encroachments around courts in Lucknow. 

The Allahabad High Court has directed the Lucknow authorities to remove all remaining illegal encroachments in the area surrounding the District and Sessions Court, Lucknow, while making it clear that demolition must be preceded by notice and an opportunity to establish a valid claim over the structures.

A division bench of Justices Rajesh Singh Chauhan and Rajeev Bharti passed the direction on September 10 while hearing a criminal writ petition treated as a public interest litigation along with a pending PIL concerning encroachments in the Kaiserbagh area.

Encroachments on public pathways

The issue arose in PIL No. 1086 of 2025, which sought removal of alleged illegal encroachments from the eastern boundary wall and land of the BSNL Telephone Exchange Building at Kaiserbagh. The petition specifically referred to the safety and security of the area.

Court recalled its April 7 order, in which it had directed the authorities to remove illegal encroachments from the entire area around the District and Sessions Court, including the Old High Court Campus, Collectorate, Board of Revenue, Old Sadar Tehsil Campus, Sub-Registrar Office, Commissionerate, Residency Power Sub Station, Balrampur Hospital and Kaiserbagh Bus Station.

The bench had then observed that because of illegal encroachment on public pathways, “the public at large” using these institutions and public facilities had been suffering considerably. It had consequently treated the criminal writ petition as a criminal PIL “in the larger interest of public at large”.

71 encroachments removed, remaining structures to face action

During the latest hearing, the Lucknow Municipal Corporation informed the court that 14 illegal constructions had initially been removed, followed by 57 more illegal encroachments. Photographs documenting the action were also placed before the bench.

The corporation said the removals were carried out pursuant to the court's August 4 order. It also informed the court that encroachments between Swasthya Bhawan Crossing, Collectorate Crossing, Bus Stand Crossing and Chakbast Crossing had already been removed.

Court, however, clarified that the exercise could not stop there.

“The entire illegal encroachments” covered by its April 7 order would have to be removed, the bench directed, while requiring the authorities to follow the safeguards it had laid down in August.

The August 4 order had dealt with 72 remaining encroachers. Court had said that although they were aware that the chambers and shops were allegedly illegal and unauthorised, “as an abundant precaution” they should be given another opportunity to either vacate or place before the competent authority their valid claim to retain the premises.

Fresh notices were to be served, giving the occupants at least 10 days to act. If notices could not be delivered, they could be pasted on the encroachment and published in one Hindi and one English newspaper. Structures could be demolished if the occupants neither vacated nor established a bona fide claim.

Court stressed that these safeguards were based on the principles of natural justice and would have to be followed before removal.

It also directed the Lucknow Police Commissioner, District Magistrate and Municipal Commissioner to coordinate the exercise and provide necessary police and administrative support so that no law-and-order situation arose.

The authorities have been asked to complete the exercise expeditiously, preferably within five weeks. The matter will next be taken up on October 26.

Separately, regarding the other writ petition, the State informed the court that although a chargesheet had been prepared, the competent authority had ordered further investigation. The bench directed that the outcome of the further investigation be placed before it at the next hearing.

Case Title: Anuradha Singh and Others v. State of U.P. through Principal Secretary, Home, Lucknow and Others Along with Anis Ahmad Shah v. UOI

Order Date: September 10, 2026

Bench: Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan and Justice Rajeev Bharti

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