Want to see ‘full stop’ put on unauthorised construction: HC

In a stern message to put a “full stop” to unabated unauthorised construction here, Delhi High Court on Wednesday said it was mulling putting “black marks” on the confidential reports of government officials, including the police, to see that they are demoted or not promoted for failing to check such illegal activity.

“We are waiting to see the day when we see ‘full stop’ on unauthorised construction. It seems this will only happen if courts take strict action against the officials,” a Bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Ashutosh Kumar said.

The Bench said it was proposing to put “black marks” in the Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) of the officials, including police officers, who were not preventing unauthorised constructions despite court orders.

“So, they will be downgraded and will never be promoted as they are not fit for the job,” the court observed while hearing a PIL against unauthorised construction in Ayanagar area of South Delhi.

The court said there was no point in registering more and more complaints against illegal construction and instead the focus should be to prevent them from happening in the first place.

“There has to be a ‘full stop’. When will it happen,” it asked, adding that “despite order of the court, unauthorised constructions are continuing unabated”.