HC notice to Centre on plea alleging govt land encroachment

The Delhi High Court today sought response of the Centre and the city government on a society's plea seeking "removal" of the alleged illegal constructions on government land in village Chhattarpur here.

A bench headed by Justice Pradeep Nandrajog also issued notice to Delhi Development Authority (DDA), South Delhi Municipal Corporation and Delhi Police Commissioner, seeking their reply by the next date of hearing on August 6.

It sought presence of the Revenue Incharge Assistant, Tehsildar and Patwari, and asked them to bring their field book on the next date of hearing.

The court directed the authorities to conduct within two weeks the demarcation of the sites in question as well as intimate the villagers about the same within a week.

It asked the authorities to submit a status report on August 6 showing that villagers were intimated and demarcation was carried out.

The order was passed on the plea of Corruption Removal Society which has alleged that government land in Chhattarpur village as well as other parts of Delhi are being encroached upon.

The society has contended that the authorities have failed to discharge their statutory duty of protecting government land from encroachment and illegal construction.

It has claimed that such encroachment and illegal construction is in violation of a 2010 circular of the Lt Governor banning such activity.

It has also alleged that the illegal constructions are being done without any proper sanctioned plan from the authorities.

The society has claimed that such illegal constructions would adversely affect the availability of basic amenities like water and electricity as well as shrinking of government land.