Delhi HC seeks inform on redevelopment of Jama Masjid area

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Public Works Department (PWD) to inform it on the timeline of redevelopment of the Jama Masjid area here.

A division bench of Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva asked the department to file a "better affidavit" which will indicate the timeline of redevelopment of the area.

The court's direction came after the PWD filed an affidavit stating that process to redevelop the area would likely to be done by the beginning of 2017.

Not satisfied with the submission of the PWD, the bench asked it to file an affidavit with modified timeline of redevelopment of the area which would be feasible saying that time given by the PWD is "too far stretched".

On the encroachment of Jama Masjid area, North Delhi Municipal Corporation and SHO of the area to file status reports within two weeks and posted the matter for November 4.

Advocate Mobin Akhtar, appearing for various associations representing shop owners and vendors of the area, said there was a lot of unauthorised construction in and around the market area of Dargah Sheikh Kalimullah.

The petitioners alleged inaction on part of authorities in putting into effect the redevelopment plan despite having obtained all legal permissions from the concerned agencies as well as sanction of Rs.168 crore as a tentative cost of the project.

The petitioners alleged that delay in implementing the plan resulted in encroachment by unauthorised occupants and had sought an order directing the authorities to place in their original locations the shop owners, who were removed in the name of redevelopment plan.