~By Kunal Rao

Delhi High Court on Monday (July 24) issued notice to the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) on a plea seeking direction to the authorities for sealing and demolition of unauthorized construction in the Paharganj area alleging that illegal construction are the main reason for building collapse causing casualties.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar sought to know the stand of the civic agency on the plea by Rajendra Gupta who alleged that several causalities have taken place in the last two months because of building collapse.

The plea, filed through advocate AC David and Rajesh Kumar, contended that in the last two months number of casualties had been caused due to the collapse of some unauthorized/old buildings at Paharganj and other parts of the city.

It said that number of these old buildings require demolition and reconstruction for safety of the people. However, construction is going on in these buildings with the knowledge and consent of the civic authorities who turned their eyes from these illegal constructions.

The petition highlighted the incident of May 7 where seven people had died due to the collapse of a under construction building at Gurudwara Road. It also mentioned the incident of June 8 where two persons had died and 11 injured in Sadar Bazar.

The plea sought to stop, seal and demolish the unauthorized construction thereby protecting the life and health of innocent people which apprehends every adverse impact of the unauthorized construction.

The matter would be next heard on October 10.

—India Legal Bureau