KATHMANDU, Jan 31: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued an interim order staying a planned demolition of over a dozen houses in Katunje of Bhaktapur district. The houses in ward 5 of Suryabinayak Municipality were being demolished to widen the road. 

A single bench of Justice Dambar Bahadur Shahi issued the order. The apex court also summoned the ward chairman, Raj Kumar Joshi, and the Road Division Office to discuss the issue.

Senior advocate Shambhu Thapa and advocate Ananta Raj Luitel on Wednesday demanded an interim order against pulling down the settlements arguing that the road widening move was in direct infringement of the citizens' right to housing. They also argued that the authorities neither consulted the locals nor gave compensation for the land to be used for the expansion of the road.

Locals including Indira Neupane of Joshi Tole of Suryabinayak Municipality-5 had filed a writ petition at the SC on Monday after the respective ward office served them demolition notice on January 17.

 
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