Delhi court raps south civic body for encouraging illegal construction
25 April 2013 7:21 AM IST
Citing the recent building collapse in Mumbai which killed over 74 persons,a Delhi court has asked the commissioner of South Delhi Municipal Corporation (South DMC) to file a report on action taken against its
officials who failed to act on repeated complaints of septuagenarian widow against illegal construction in her neighbourhood.
The old lady in her in her plea alleged due to the illegal construction her house was getting damaged and that she fears of a collapse. ‘In a recent illegal building collapse in Thane suburb of Mumbai left more than 70 people dead and several injured. The possibility of such mishappening cannot be ruled out in such cases unless authorities are vigilant and proactive to prevent such disaster,’ observed Jintendra Mishra, Senior Civil Judge.
He called for report against South DMC’s assistant engineer (AE) Vinod Sharma saying he failed to check an illegal construction, which allegedly damaged the nearby property.
The court also restrained the builders from bringing up the construction. ‘It is clear that Sharma as per his statement has prima facie failed to exhibit due diligence required of a government officer when it is required to deal with process of court specially in a case where illegal construction is alleged to be causing damage to nearby property amid fear of collapse,’ said the judge.
He further ordered that an action taken report (ATR) be called from the office of commissioner of MCD concerned against the officials responsible for default, including AE Sharma. The next hearing in the case would be on 3 May.
The court’s order came on a plea filed by Urmila, a resident of south Delhi, who alleged that due to an illegal construction raised by few builders, her house was damaged and now she is fearing that it might collapse. She alleged that various complaints were made by her to the police since October 2012 and she had also informed the Deputy Commissioner, MCD, of Central Zone on 8 April, but no action was taken.
Taking note of the woman’s submissions, the judge in his order said that the AE took the matter casually and he even failed to appear in person before the court in pursuance to its summons issued on 18 April. He also directed that a copy of the order be sent along with the statement of said AE to the Commissioner of MCD for necessary compliance.
officials who failed to act on repeated complaints of septuagenarian widow against illegal construction in her neighbourhood.
The old lady in her in her plea alleged due to the illegal construction her house was getting damaged and that she fears of a collapse. ‘In a recent illegal building collapse in Thane suburb of Mumbai left more than 70 people dead and several injured. The possibility of such mishappening cannot be ruled out in such cases unless authorities are vigilant and proactive to prevent such disaster,’ observed Jintendra Mishra, Senior Civil Judge.
He called for report against South DMC’s assistant engineer (AE) Vinod Sharma saying he failed to check an illegal construction, which allegedly damaged the nearby property.
The court also restrained the builders from bringing up the construction. ‘It is clear that Sharma as per his statement has prima facie failed to exhibit due diligence required of a government officer when it is required to deal with process of court specially in a case where illegal construction is alleged to be causing damage to nearby property amid fear of collapse,’ said the judge.
He further ordered that an action taken report (ATR) be called from the office of commissioner of MCD concerned against the officials responsible for default, including AE Sharma. The next hearing in the case would be on 3 May.
The court’s order came on a plea filed by Urmila, a resident of south Delhi, who alleged that due to an illegal construction raised by few builders, her house was damaged and now she is fearing that it might collapse. She alleged that various complaints were made by her to the police since October 2012 and she had also informed the Deputy Commissioner, MCD, of Central Zone on 8 April, but no action was taken.
Taking note of the woman’s submissions, the judge in his order said that the AE took the matter casually and he even failed to appear in person before the court in pursuance to its summons issued on 18 April. He also directed that a copy of the order be sent along with the statement of said AE to the Commissioner of MCD for necessary compliance.
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