Authorities must clear encroachments within six months and consider eligible occupants’ applications for alternative arrangements.

The petitioner initiated contempt proceedings alleging wilful disobedience of the High Court’s order dated 21 June 2024 in W.P.(MD) No. 13330 of 2024.

The contempt petition sought action against the municipal and revenue authorities.

Forty-four occupants applied to be impleaded in the contempt proceedings. Their counsel submitted that the occupants belonged to economically disadvantaged groups.

The respondents undertook to clear the alleged encroachments; the Court noted that the occupants had been in occupation for a long time and that alternative arrangements would be required.

Whether the respondents’ undertaking and the circumstances warranted further time to implement the Court’s order dated 21 June 2024.

Whether the sub-applicants’ circumstances warranted permission to seek alternative arrangements from the District Collector.

Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 was invoked in the contempt petition.

The order does not cite any precedent or set out a substantive test for contempt. It records an undertaking to comply with the earlier order and grants time for implementation, while permitting the occupants to apply to the District Collector for consideration under applicable eligibility norms.

In light of the respondents’ undertaking to clear the encroachments, the Court allowed six months for full enforcement of its earlier order.

It took account of the occupants’ long-standing presence and the need for alternative arrangements. Given the sub-applicants’ submission regarding their economic circumstances, the Court permitted them to apply to the District Collector, with favourable consideration left conditional on their meeting eligibility norms.

The order does not make a finding on whether contempt had been proved.

It permitted the sub-applicants to apply to the District Collector, who may consider eligible applications favourably and pass an appropriate order within three months.

The contempt petition was disposed of and the connected impleading application was closed.