Above: AG K K Venugopal/Photo by Anil Shakya
Court orders publishing of plan in leading newspapers for three consecutive days
The Central government on Tuesday (May 15) reiterated before the Supreme Court bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Navin Sinha that it was bringing tough laws to combat and prevent illegal constructions in Delhi. It assured the court that harsh measures will be taken against those involved in such illegal constructions.
The Union government said that under the new rule, if corporation and DDA officers were found involved in illegal construction, they would be prosecuted under the PC Act and relevant sections of the IPC.
The government counsel, Attorney General K K Venugopal also repeated the government’s plan to launch a mobile app through which any resident of Delhi can register online complaints regarding illegal construction. He said that a task force will be immediately notified following such complaints.
The government also assured the court that it would prosecute all former officials who have allowed illegal constructions.
The Supreme Court in this matter is firm on its decision that commercial establishments like big showrooms, hotels/restaurants will not be allowed to continue their operations in residential areas as most of these establishments do not follow the safety standards and people face parking issues, pollution etc because of these establishments and unauthorized constructions.
On Tuesday the court ordered that this new action plan must be published by the government in leading newspapers in Hindi and English for three consecutive days.
The court has given this direction so that people of Delhi get the information about the plan and can raise objections within 15 days. Any objections in the master plan will be invited by the central government within 15 days. The final decision of the central government should be placed on the record.
The matter is listed for Thursday.
The court has said that the Centre, Delhi government and other civic authorities such as DDA, MCDs etc are responsible for ruining Delhi by not preventing the unauthorized constructions.
—India Legal Bureau