The counsel for the petitioners told the court that despite a pending petition, the civic body went ahead by pasting the eviction notice on August 21. (File Photo)Tension mounted in Tollygunge in south Kolkata on Sunday morning after bulldozers of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) reached Satish Mukherjee Road to demolish a building, which the residents claimed to be a Waqf property.As residents of the area protested and resisted the civic body’s action, saying they were asked to vacate the premises overnight, the Calcutta High Court stepped in and stayed the demolition for 30 days, saying the affected petitioners were not aware of the KMC notice.During an emergency hearing by Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury, advocate Zohaib Rauf, appearing for the petitioners, told the High Court that despite a pending petition challenging the KMC’s notice to demolish the premises of 51/1A and 51/1B on Satish Mukherjee Road, the civic body went ahead by pasting the eviction notice on August 21, informing that the twin buildings will be demolished in two days’ time.“As per the notice pasted on August 21, the municipal officers along with a police force will enter the petitioner’s premises on August 23 between 11 am and 5 pm to carry out the demolition work,” Rauf told the single-judge bench, adding they were not informed about it beforehand.Countering Rauf, the KMC’s counsel said the municipal authorities had previously notified the petitioner with regard to the “illegal construction”. Despite being notified about the same, the petitioner did not stop and continued to retain possession of the illegally constructed portion. As a result, the demolition step has been taken,” the KMC’s counsel added.After hearing the two sides, Justice Chowdhury, in an interim order, stayed the demolition, saying, “I find that the petitioner has not been given any appropriate and meaningful opportunity to prefer an appeal. The order appears to have been passed on 18/19th August, 2026 and the same was sought to be implemented on August 23 by a notice issued by the municipal authorities on August 21… Since the petitioner is now aware of the order, the petitioner shall be at liberty to take such steps as available to the petitioner in law.”The bench, however, made it clear that it did not look into the merits of the KMC’s demolition order.Story continues below this adThe Bench, however, noted that as per the submitted records, both the premises – 51/1A and 51/1B – were duly registered before the Waqf Board, and are Grade – I heritage sites where a heritage mosque, mansard and tombs of Tipu Sultan exist.“There are several illegal constructions, and 500 families have encroached for years. One and two-storied structures were newly constructed near the entrance of the site. It is under lock and key and has been recently painted. The Waqf Board, which has the right to preserve the Grade-I heritage site, has sought removal of the illegal structures present at the heritage site,.. the Board shall be at liberty to demolish the structures at the site. If applied for, the KMC will provide all necessary help for demolition work,” the Bench ordered.Meanwhile, the KMC authorities claimed that the building used to be a Trinamool Congress party office. The locals, however, said it was not a party office as several families resided there.Tanusree Bose is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Kolkata. Her work focuses sharply on the complex administrative, political, and judicial developments across West Bengal, establishing her as an authoritative voice in regional news coverage. Experience Current Role: Reports for the prestigious national daily, The Indian Express, providing her content with a high level of Trustworthiness. Geographical Expertise: Provides focused, in-depth coverage of West Bengal, demonstrating an intimate knowledge of the state's news and political nuances. Core Authority: Her reporting portfolio highlights deep Expertise in crucial, often sensitive, beats, including: State Politics and Governance: Covering the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), opposition strategies (BJP), and internal political controversies. Judicial and Administrative Affairs: Closely monitoring key developments in the Calcutta High Court, particularly major rulings related to employment, education, and social issues. Education Sector: Extensive reporting on significant controversies, such as teacher recruitment irregularities and administrative actions by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE). Social & Electoral Issues: Covering public events, community tensions (e.g., religious/political gatherings), and election-related processes like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll. Tanusree Bose's consistent output and focus on high-stakes regional issues for a trusted media outlet underscore her status as a reliable and authoritative source for news from West Bengal. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on InstagramTags:Calcutta High CourtKolkata