Officials summoned over encroachments in Shimla

The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Tuesday directed the principal secretary for urban development and the Shimla municipal commissioner to appear before it on May 12 regarding encroachments in the state capital.

A division bench of Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan passed the order on a petition taken up suo motu as a public interest litigation on a news report.

The news report said that during a joint mock drill by the fire department and the municipal corporation, it was found that it was nearly impossible for the fire engines to reach a spot in case of a blaze due to encroachments in Lower Bazaar area.

Earlier, the bench had directed the municipal commissioner to remove encroachments and file a status report before the court.

The court also directed the government to file a response and listed the matter for next hearing on May 12.