HYDERABAD, Nov 23: The Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit bench, here on Friday issued show-cause notices to two officials of Building Control Department of Hyderabad Development Authority for their refusal to receive notices issued to them by the SHC in a public interest litigation. The notices were issued by Justice Khawaja Naveed Ahmed after submission of a bailiff’s report. The court also directed the officials to stop construction of a project till November 30.

The bailiff told the court that to serve notices on a civil miscellaneous application issued on November 22, he visited the office of the Building Control Department where he met Sharafatullah, office superintendent, and then Naveed Asim. However, he said, both of them refused to receive notice from him. Thereafter, he said, personal assistant of director BCD received the notice.

He said that respondent builder Raees Ahmed Sheikh was not available while his wife also refused to receive the notice on the ground that her husband would receive the same.

The court noted that conduct of the officials and their refusal to receive notice was very serious. The court issued show cause notices to Sharafatullah and Nawab and sought a reply by November 30. The court bound the officials to be present in the court on the same date.

The petitioner Cheepa and nine others have challenged construction of Shams Basheer Heights in a public interest litigation. The petitioners are residents of Roop Mahal, Hirabad.

They prayed the court to intervene and stop illegal construction of the project on city survey plot no A-352/1 and A352/2 situated on rear side of Roop Mehal and issue directives to the Building Control Department to provide necessary documents and layout plan.