Anushka Mansharamani
In a relief to Kathak exponent Pandit Birju Maharaj, the Delhi High Court put a stay on the eviction notice issued by the Centre.
As per the notification he was asked to vacate the accommodation allotted to him by the government by 31st December.
A vacation bench comprising Justice Vibhu Bakhru issued the notification and asked for a response from the Centre on the plea filed by the renowned Kathak artist.
The plea challenged the government’s decision regarding the cancellation of the accommodation allotted.
The Delhi High Court then put a stay on the impugned notice passed on 9th October until the next hearing.
The next hearing is scheduled to be on 22nd January 2021 before the roster bench concerned.
The next hearing would be heard along with a similar petition filed by Padma Shri awardee Mohiniyattam dancer, Bharati Shivaji.
Bharati Shivaji was also served with an eviction notice.
The court in its order stated that Pandit Birju Maharaj was allotted an accommodation by the government due to his accomplishments but by virtue of the impugned notices, he was asked to vacate the premises by 31st December.
Senior advocate Akhil Sibal, representing Pandit Birju Maharaj stated that similar notices were issued to other well-known personalities who were also accommodated by the government and are thereby subject matter of petitions filed before the Delhi High Court.
He further cited an order passed by the High Court in the Bharati Shivaji’s case on 23 December where a stay was put on a similar eviction notice.
In October, 27 renowned personalities, aged from 50-90 were sent the same notices by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Jatin Das, Pt Bhajan Sopori, Pt Birju Maharaj, Rita Ganguly, Dhrupad singer Ustad F Wasifuddin Dagar, Kathak expert Geetanjali Lal and Kuchipudi dancer Guru Jayarama Rao are among the other eminent personalities who were sent notices.