AGRA: The Allahabad high court on Monday quashed demolition proceedings initiated by the district administration against a piece of land claimed by Radhasoami Satsang Sabha, a religious and charitable society headquartered in Dayalbagh. On October 10, a bench of Justice Manish Kumar Nigam directed the Sabha and Agra administration to maintain the status quo till October 16. The court directed the district administration to produce the original record of proceedings initiated against the Sabha land. SK Nayyar, Sabha spokesperson, said, "The demolition drive carried out by the district administration was in violation of norms. Taking cognisance of our plea, the court quashed all demolition proceedings. We have all necessary documents to prove land ownership." In its writ petition, the petitioner contended that notice had not been served upon it for demolition on certain khasras. Further, two properties where demolition was carried out were protected by interim orders by the Allahabad High Court in separate proceedings. The plea stated that on the next day, police lathicharged karsevaks gathered in the Sabha fields without giving them any warning or notice. It was also claimed that women and children were in the group beaten by police. On September 24, around 30 people, including police personnel and a mediaperson, sustained injuries in a clash between police and Sabha followers. The clash erupted when a local administration team, accompanied by police, arrived in Dayalbagh to remove "illegal encroachment" by the Sabha on government land. As a bulldozer approached to dismantle a gate that restricted public access, around 200 satsangis, including women and children, started pelting stones, police claimed. Sabha representatives claimed that police and administration were trying to grab their land to help builders.

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