Demolition of Asaram's ashram: NGT seeks Delhi govt's report

The National Green Tribunal has asked the Delhi government to file a report detailing the demolition of illegal constructions at an ashram of jailed 'godman' Asaram Bapu here.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also asked the city government and the petitioner to file a comparative report of the existing and demolished structures at the ashram in Karol Bagh and also the findings of a committee set up by the tribunal on the matter.
"The applicant has taken objection to the structures at the ashram. Let comparative reports be filed by both the parties on existing/demolished structures and the committee findings," the bench said while posting the matter for further hearing on August 5.

During the hearing, Delhi government's counsel while placing on record some photographs of the ashram said there was no illegal construction at present.
"Whatever structure exists at present also exists in the map of 1996. We have complied with the direction of committee constituted by the tribunal which is evident from the photographs submitted," the counsel said.
He said several rooms were demolished and the cover of the pandal and poly-carbonate sheet have been removed.

However, advocate Gaurav Bansal, appearing for petitioner Sanjay Kumar, claimed that illegal encroachment still existed in the ashram and said the committee's finding should not be relied upon, as an independent member was absent.

He said independent member Sunita Narain of the court- appointed committee has not signed the compliance report.
"The compliance report is silent on the status of the violations/illegal structures which were directed to be removed in compliance of the tribunal's judgment," he said.