Maidan ‘filth’: Calcutta HC orders suo motu PIL – Times of India

KOLKATA: Calcutta high court, on Monday, ordered the lodging of a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) on dumping of waste, illegal parking and construction of concrete structures on the Kolkata Maidan despite orders by the Supreme Court against such activity.
The bench of Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Arijit Banerjee has directed the registrar to inform the GOC-in-C, Eastern Command and authorities at the Bengal Area of this order. The state has also been directed to identify its agencies associated with the upkeep of the Maidan so they may be present on Thursday when the matter comes up for hearing. The day’s hearing was held virtually in the presence of the additional solicitor general and state advocate general.
The Maidan, the largest patch of greens in the city, belongs to the Ministry of Defence and is looked after by the Local Military Authority. Maintenance and law and order vests on the state authorities. The court was particularly critical of the ‘filth’ that the famous Brigade Parade Ground has turned into and parking of vehicles along Casuarina Avenue, Hospital Road, Queen’s Way, Kidderpore Road and Cathedral Road.