The Panchsheel Cooperative House Building Society Limited petition before the Delhi High Court is interesting in that it deals with an existing hospital at Panchsheel Apartment in Delhi (E-24) which was changed into a commercial complex. While this change itself is illegal, the plan for that was passed by the MCD.

The high court’s bench on June 2 directed Ajay Arora, the standing counsel for NDMC to go and inspect the property. He is to inspect the property, assisted by the officials of MCD. The status will be submitted in a report in three days.

On June 2, the bench asked: “Which are the building byelaws that tell us about the norms of parking space for a hospital?”

The counsel for MCD tried to convince the bench with some arguments, but the bench was not satisfied. The technical data was later read out.

When the bench asked “What is your stand?” the respondent’s answer was strange: “The building plan was amended due to water consumption.”

The bench said that it will ask the CBI to take action “against your officials.” That order was not passed, but it was mutually agreed that property will be inspected on Monday before more decisions are taken.

—India Legal Bureau