Shillong, May 29: The case pertaining to Lum Survey will be heard on July 9 by the district court.
The matter came up for hearing on May 27. The Defence Estate officer is yet to file his reply and the case will proceed once the reply is filed. However, the district court fixed July 7 for hearing.
A lawyer dealing with the case said as one of the litigants died this year, his wife has filed an application for substitution. There will be hearing on the substitution application first.
The appeal was filed by three litigants- a lady running the hotel at the entrance and two Punjabis who are engaged in sale of scraps since year 2002 against the eviction notice issued by the Defence Estate officer under the Public Premises ( Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act 1971.The case is pending since 2006.
Sources said though the people whose houses were dismantled by the pressure group are not party to the case, eviction by the non-state actor is illegal as it is required to be done by the competent authority by following due process of law.
