THE director of Huangpu District appeared in court yesterday as the defendant in a case brought by a member of the public seeking to prevent local authorities from seizing his home.

The plaintiff, surnamed Xie, said the district government had no right to acquire his property as it is sited on land owned by an urban construction corporation and the Huangpu land reserve center.

He therefore decided to sue the district government and the director of the housing management bureau, the Huangpu District People’s Court heard.