No More Sudden Evictions? Lalbazar Lays Down New Rules

Eviction drives and the demolition or sealing of illegal constructions in Kolkata are set to come under a more structured policing framework, with Lalbazar issuing a six-point guideline aimed at preventing law-and-order disturbances during such operations.

The directive was issued on Wednesday by Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand, stressing that eviction drives, demolition of unauthorised structures and sealing operations should not be carried out without prior planning. Instead, police and municipal authorities have been asked to coordinate in advance, assess the situation on the ground and ensure that adequate personnel are available before an operation begins.

Under the new instructions, police stations are to be informed beforehand about the nature and timing of an operation, as well as the number of personnel likely to be required. Officers involved in the exercise are expected to clearly divide responsibilities and coordinate with the concerned municipal officials so that the operation proceeds in an orderly manner.

The directive also calls for sensitive or potentially contentious operations to be discussed in advance between the police and the civic authorities. Such coordination, Lalbazar believes, would allow officials to identify possible flashpoints beforehand and prepare an appropriate response rather than reacting after tensions have already escalated.

Speed is another element of the new protocol. Once police and municipal officials reach the designated location, the operation should begin without unnecessary delay, with the stated aim of limiting the scope for large gatherings and possible confrontation.

The checklist accompanying the guideline places emphasis on preparations even before officials arrive at the site. Where legally applicable, residents or occupants facing eviction are to be given the required advance notice. The police and municipal authorities are also expected to conduct a joint inspection beforehand to correctly identify the structure or area concerned and locate spots where tensions could potentially emerge.

On the day of an operation, adequate police deployment has been prescribed, with a Deputy Commissioner-level officer and the officer-in-charge of the concerned police station expected to oversee arrangements. Lalbazar has also called for Quick Response Teams to be kept ready where necessary, while ensuring that sufficient women police personnel are available for operations involving women or other sensitive situations.

The directive further requires the necessary documentation and formalities to be completed before a building is sealed. Officials responsible for sealing a premises are expected to have the procedure clearly mapped out beforehand, allowing police personnel to respond promptly if resistance or a law-and-order problem develops.

The move comes against the backdrop of recurring tensions around eviction and demolition operations in the city. Such exercises can involve competing claims over property, occupation and legality, turning what may begin as a civic enforcement measure into a potential law-and-order challenge.

Lalbazar’s latest instructions therefore seek to shift the emphasis from reaction to preparation. Rather than treating police deployment as an immediate response to trouble at an eviction site, the new framework places greater weight on advance intelligence, inter-agency coordination, adequate manpower and clear documentation.

The guidelines do not themselves amount to a blanket order for demolition or eviction. Instead, they establish a procedural framework for police preparedness when such action is undertaken by the competent civic or administrative authorities.

The immediate objective is clear: ensure that enforcement operations are carried out with greater coordination and fewer flashpoints, while allowing police and civic officials to anticipate potential trouble before an eviction, demolition or sealing exercise begins.