HC upset over DDA report on parks in Delhi, to pass direction

The Delhi High Court today took a strong view of the reports filed by civic agencies, including DDA, on the status of children's parks and the work done by them to repair and maintain the facilities there to ensure the safety of children.
Upset over the report, a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw said that it will be giving directions to the civic bodies for the upkeep of the parks here.
"Is their any other person working in this field (how to maintain the park)? I (judge) think it will not work like this. You need to include someone else...

"We will pass an order with certain directions that they (civic bodies) can comply with," the judge said and fixed the matter for December 17.
Counsel for Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in their status report told the court that they have now allowed sale of newspapers, flowers and other needful articles in the parks.
To which, senior advocate Nidhesh Gupta, who has been appointed an amicus curiae to assist the court, wanted to know what they have done for children.

"They (civic bodies) have done this to make money out of it," advocate Gupta said, adding that the deficiencies pointed out by him earlier have not yet been rectified.

DDA said there are playgrounds for children in every park which also have swings and other rides.
The court later directed the civic bodies to make a new policy by also including the suggestions given by the amicus.
The court had earlier taken suo motu cognisance of a letter written by Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph highlighting the poor conditions of children's parks and had issued notices to the civic agencies and PWD and Delhi Cantonment Board.