HC may order CBI inquiry on Saniki Farms construction

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday said it intended to order a CBI inquiry against the municipal or police officials under whose watch rampant unauthorised construction came up in Sainik Farms area.

A division bench of Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Ashutosh Kumar also sought the Central government's stand on whether it intended to regularise or demolish the unauthorised constructions at the Sainik Farms.

A PIL has been filed by an NGO alleging illegal construction in the Sainik Farms. The court posted the matter for further hearing on September 7.

There is a blanket ban on any construction activity in the Sainik Farms area since 2001, pursuant to a direction of the Delhi High Court. Even entry of construction material in the area is banned, which was to be checked by South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and the South Delhi police.

"We are not going to leave the officials. We are going to order a CBI inquiry against them," said the court.

It also sought presence of CBI counsel on the next date of hearing, saying it was contemplating issuing directions to the CBI.

A Sainik Farms Resident Welfare Association (RWA) told the court that an official of the SDMC were helping heavy trucks to enter the area for a price.

The bench directed the SDMC to take strict action against the official named by the RWA as per law.

It also directed the corporation to provide digital copies of the log books maintained by its officials at the entry and exit points of the colony and any other log book pertaining to the area.

The court asked the Centre's stand on regularising or demolishing the unauthorised constructions in Sainik Farms, after the government said it had received comments from all stakeholders in June this year about the action to be taken, but the Union Cabinet was yet to take a decision as Parliament session has started and sought eight weeks' time.

The bench also asked SDMC to file a satellite image of the area as well as a status report regarding the CCTV cameras it intended to install at 17 sites in the colony.

--IANS

gt/bim/vt