SC slams Centre, civic body for bringing Delhi to a collapse

The Supreme Court on Thursday slammed the Centre and the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) for not doing their work in curbing the unauthorized construction and thereby bringing the city to a "collapse".

"You will have to admit the fact that your people are not doing their work either in accordance with law or the direction of the court," said a three-judge bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur, Justice Mohan M. Shantagoudar and Justice S. Abdul Nazeer.

The bench also said that "there are allegation of corruption and connivance, which were also recorded in 2006 judgement and continue even today".

Venting its ire over the callous approach of officialdom both at the Centre and the civic bodies dealing with the national capital, Justice Lokur said, "People who have been there to look after Delhi are not doing their work. It has collapsed."

The observations from the court after it received the report of the joint survey conducted by the Land and Development Office (L&DO) under the Ministry of Urban Development and SDMC of the 800 residential premises in Amar Colony in August is yet to be finalised.

The joint survey was carried out to identify the unauthorised constructions to be sealed in the colony.

Taking exception to the fact that survey was carried out in August but the report is yet to be finalised or "is under finalisation"Justice Lokur said: "Data entry of some crores of cases have been done and you are taking time for compiling data for 800 residential premises".

The court gave time till Friday for the Additional Solicitor General Atmaram Nadkarni to take instructions on the schedule and procedure to be followed for sealing premises which are being used for purposes other is permitted.

In the environment matter, Delhi government informed the court that in pursuance to the top court directions, 10-year-old diesel vehicles and 15-year-old petrol vehicles would not be allowed to ply in the city.

The court was also said that around 40 lakh vehicles have been de-registered in the national capital.

--IANS

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