Illegal construction: Court seeks ATR against MCD officials

A Delhi court has asked the MCD Commissioner to file a report on action taken against its officials whose alleged failure to act on repeated pleas of a 70-year-old widow against an illegal construction led to her house getting damaged and fears of collapse.
Senior Civil Judge Jitendra Mishra called for report against Municipal Corporation of Delhi's (MCD) Assistant Engineer (AE) Vinod Sharma saying he failed to check an illegal construction, which allegedly damaged the nearby property. The court also restrained the builders from bringing up the construction.
The court also cited the Thane building collapse early ths month and said such mishaps cannot be ruled out in such cases unless authorities are vigilant and proactive.

"Recently an illegal building collapsed in Mumbai and more than 70 people were killed and the possibility of such mishappening cannot be ruled out in such cases as present matter unless authorities are vigilant and proactive to prevent such disaster," it said..
"It is clear that Sharma as per his statement has prima facie failed to exhibit due diligence required of a government officer when it is required to deal with process of court specially in a case where illegal construction is alleged to be causing damage to nearby property amid fear of collapse etc.
"In facts of the case, let an action taken report (ATR) be called from the office of concerned Commissioner of MCD against the concerned official including AE Sharma and other officers responsible for default," the court said while fixing the matter for further proceedings on May 3.

The court's order came on a plea filed by Urmila, a resident of South Delhi, who alleged that due to an illegal construction raised by few builders, her house was damaged and now she is fearing that it might collapse.
She alleged that various complaints were made by her to the police since October 2012 and she had also informed the Deputy Commissioner, MCD, of Central Zone on April 8, but no action was taken.