The Allahabad High Court has declined to direct the removal or demolition of a police outpost in Lucknow’s Aminabad area, emphasizing that such facilities exist for public safety and convenience rather than the personal benefit of police personnel.
Court Cites Density And Lack Of Land
Hearing a public interest litigation filed by ML Yadav, a division bench comprising Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjive Shukla ruled on Thursday that interfering with the established structure was unwarranted. The petitioner had argued that the Aminabad police outpost was constructed unlawfully and suggested that the state acquire alternative land elsewhere to set up a new facility.
Dismissing the request for demolition, the bench pointed out that Aminabad is a densely populated and heavily congested area with almost no vacant land available. The court stated that while proposing land acquisition appears simple, executing it in such an area involves extreme practical difficulty. Given that the structure was already built and actively serving the public interest, the court held that ordering its destruction would be inappropriate.
Representation Option Granted To Petitioner
The bench nevertheless granted the petitioner liberty to submit a formal representation to the Lucknow Police Commissioner. It observed that if shifting the police outpost to an alternative site proves feasible, police authorities may consider that option.
Additionally, Yadav had raised concerns regarding several other police check posts across Lucknow that he alleged were constructed illegally. The bench directed that this issue could also be presented to the police commissioner through a representation, which should be evaluated and resolved according to the law.
