The Supreme Court overturned the Allahabad High Court’s order directing demolition of a Panchayat Bhawan in Pilibhit, saying public money must not go to waste. The Court asked the district collector to resolve the pathway dispute and keep the building intact.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday set aside an order of the Allahabad High Court that had asked for the demolition of a Panchayat Bhawan in Phirseh Churrah village of Pilibhit district, Uttar Pradesh. The top court said that government funds should not be wasted by tearing down a building constructed on Gram Sabha land.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed,
“After all this is government money which was used for construction of Panchayat Bhawan that too on a Gram Sabha land… the public money should not go waste.”
The court said this while modifying the Allahabad High Court’s order dated March 4, 2024.
The case began after a villager, Angrej Singh, filed a PIL in 2022 alleging that the Panchayat Bhawan’s construction blocked a public pathway.
However, during the hearing before the Supreme Court, the authorities informed the bench that an alternative route had already been provided and that the Panchayat Bhawan was built entirely on Gram Sabha land.
Considering these new facts, the Supreme Court said there was no reason to demolish the Panchayat Bhawan.
The bench noted that public buildings created using government funds should not be destroyed unnecessarily when a solution already exists.
Saving the building from demolition, the bench directed the district collector to visit the location in person. The court said the collector must check whether a pathway actually exists and ensure that the dispute between villagers is fully resolved.
The court also made it clear that the Panchayat Bhawan cannot be demolished in light of the new information provided.
The Supreme Court further asked the district collector to take responsibility for settling the issue and ensuring smooth public access through the alternative pathway.
Case Title:
SATNAM SINGH Versus STATE OF U.P & ORS.
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