New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday pulled up South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) for taking piecemeal action against an unauthorised construction in Jamia Nagar here despite the police assistance provided to it.
Justice Manmohan directed the Deputy Commissioner of Central Zone of SDMC to be personally present in court along with a fresh status report on the next date of hearing on December 17.
The court while seeking the official's presence also observed that the authority does not appear to be appreciating the seriousness of the situation and the fact that the court is monitoring the issue. "It is pertinent to mention that when initially the present batch of writ petitions was taken for hearing, it was the case of SDMC that the police was not rendering any assistance.
"This court fails to understand that today when the police is providing full assistance, why SDMC is taking piecemeal action and why it has fixed the next date for demolition after one-and-a-half months. "It seems that the seriousness of the situation and that fact that this court is monitoring the action of respondents are not being appreciated," it said.
The court was hearing a nine petitions pertaining to illegal and unauthorised construction in Jamia Nagar. The petitioners have alleged that illegal and unauthorised construction is being carried out on a river bed there. During the hearing, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) submitted that the area has been de-notified and only SDMC is competent to take action against the illegal and unauthorised construction.
SDMC, meanwhile, filed its status report on the matter. On perusing the status report, the court said it revealed "that though some action has been taken against the illegal and unauthorised construction, yet the same has not been removed in entirety".
Delhi Police, represented by advocate Zubeda Begum, on its part stated that even when it is rendering full assistance, it is surprising that officials of SDMC are only taking partial action. She also submitted that it is not possible to provide police force repeatedly to deal with illegal and unauthorised construction in the same property. She said that as and when SDMC officials visit the particular property along with the police, they be directed to take full and complete action in accordance with law.
The counsel also said that even though police force is available in the month of November, the officials of SDMC have now fixed the next date for taking action only in December.
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