NGT issues warrant against top cop,others for lack of response

The National Green Tribunal today issued bailable warrant against Commissioner of Delhi Police as no one appeared on his behalf despite issue of notice on a plea seeking demolition of alleged illegal constructions in Central Ridge area by the trust managing the Birla temple.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also issued bailable warrants against the Chairman of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and the Chief Conservator of Forests of the Delhi government, saying their presence is necessary to adjudicate the matter.
"Representative/counsel appearing for respondent nos. 1 (environment ministry), 2 (urban development ministry) and 6 (Sanatan Dharam Sabha Laxmi Narayan Temple Trust) pray for further time to file reply. Let replies be filed within two weeks from today.

"As presence of other respondents would be necessary before the tribunal to adjudicate the matter in issue fully and finally, we issue bailable warrants against respondent nos. 3 (Government of Delhi), 4 (NDMC) and 5 (Commissioner of Delhi Police) in the sum of Rs 10,000...To ensure appearance of these respondents before the tribunal on the next date of hearing," the bench said and listed the matter for November 1.
The tribunal had on September 10 issued notices and sought responses of ministries of environment and urban development, Delhi government, NDMC, city police chief and the temple trust on the plea of K C Bhargava who had alleged that constructions are coming up in the 7.5 acre land adjacent to Birla temple in violation of Supreme Court orders.

In the petition filed through advocate Gaurav Bansal, Bhargava had alleged that the trust, which manages the Birla temple, "in connivance with NDMC and other authorities has illegally constructed a road, parking, temple and other constructions within the said Central Ridge area".