Delhi govt asked to reply on plea over encroachment of

The Delhi High Court today sought responses of the city government and municipal corporation on a plea seeking a direction against two private hospitals here for allegedly encroaching upon a 300-year-old cremation ground for parking purpose.
The two hospitals Deepak Memorial Hospital and Shanti Mukund Hospital were also issued notices by Justice Mammohan for seeking their replies within six weeks.
It also asked Delhi Development Authority and East Delhi Municipal Corporation to find out the real owner of the nine acre of the "controversial" land.
The court was hearing the petition filed by Residents Welfare Association of Karkardooma village, which alleged that the land which was being used by them since 1971 as cremation ground was encroached by the two hospitals for illegal parking purposes and DDA is not even stopping them from doing so.

The petitioner's counsel Sugriva Dubey told the court that EDMC itself has admitted that fund has been allotted for the development of the cremation ground but the said fund has not been utilized till date.
"Village Karkardooma started using the cremation ground even during the last 300 years without any obstruction," the plea said, adding that even MCD had in April 1972, after several requests, allowed the villagers to continue the space for cremation.