DDA officials ensured guilty never brought to book: HC

The court expressed "deep anguish" over the way the officials of Delhi Development Authority (DDA) have dealt with the issue of alleged poor quality of construction of flats in Rohini in north west Delhi by the contractor.

"This court has no doubt that the DDA officials could have easily detected the poor quality of construction when the construction was carried out by the defendant (contractor) or at least before the bills of the defendant were paid and a no dues certificate was issued," Justice Manmohan said.

The court dismissed DDA's suit seeking to recover over Rs 1.21 crore from the contractor, SAR Agencies, saying it was barred by limitation and said dismissal of the suit will not prevent the authority from taking action against its officials.

"To file a suit for recovery more than 20 years after handing over of possession by the contractor shows that the intent of the officials of the DDA was to ensure that those responsible for poor quality of construction are 'never brought to book'.

"More often than not, suits are deliberately filed belatedly 'just to pass the buck' and to blame the judicial system for non-recovery of the compensation amount," it said.

The court also directed DDA's senior officials to examine this aspect and take steps to put a robust mechanism in place so that the contractors who indulge in poor construction are booked at the earliest and "certainly before any loss of human life and property occurs".