Follow the law: HC to MCDs on unauthorised construction

The Delhi High Court today again pulled up the municipal authorities in connection with the unauthorised constructions in the national capital and asked the civic bodies to "start following the law".
"Culpability has to be fixed," a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar said while hearing a plea which alleged violation of the court's order to use a plot in Shahdara area of east Delhi only to build a community centre.
The court also issued notice to the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) and sought its response to the plea which seeks contempt action against its Commissioner for alleged violation of the high court's September 26, 2017 order.

The petition has alleged that a private contractor had grabbed the land in collusion with officials of the EDMC.
The court said that 90 per cent of the cases before it pertained to unauthorised constructions in the national capital and added that each matter clogged the system for several years.
"It is extremely painful for this court," it said and asked the MCD officials to "start following the law".

In a caustic remark, the bench said the increasing number of PILs on illegal and unauthorised constructions were a reflection of the "hard work" of the civic bodies.
The court said when people on the spot have no responsibility, why should the Commissioner of the corporation be facing contempt action.

The high court has been taking a strong note of illegal construction in the capital and has been castigating the municipal bodies for it.