Chandigarh, Oct. 16 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court has stayed a demolition drive targeting houses and shops in Patiala that was allegedly carried out without prior notice under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

The bench of chief justice Sheel Nagu and justice Sanjiv Berry acted on the plea from 15 odd residents of Sanauli Adda area of the main town in Patiala, who had alleged that even as there was not even remote connection of residents with drugs cases, their houses built at the time of Partition in 1947-48, are being demolished by the authorities.

The high court while listing the matter for November 7 and seeking government response ordered that "till the next date of hearing, status quo in regard to t...