Non-delivery of plot to BJP: HC defers hearing to August 12

The Delhi High Court today fixed August 12 for hearing the contempt plea of Delhi BJP against Union Ministry of Urban development and its officials for not handing over the possession of plots in pursuance of 2011 court order for constructing the state party office.
Delhi unit of BJP has sought contempt proceedings against Sudhir Krishna, Principal Secretary of Urban Development Ministry and Mahmood Ahmed, Land and Development Officer in the ministry for not abiding by the judicial order on giving plots to the party which had paid over Rs 1.30 crore in 2007.
Justice S K Mishra today deferred the hearing of the plea to August 12 after the lawyers appearing for the party sought the adjournment.

The Urban Development Ministry, in its reply, had earlier said that land at two places were earlier approved for the party, but as of now, a re-development policy, in relation to one plot, is in place.
There encroachments on other allotted plot and moreover, Delhi Waqf Board is also claiming ownership on that piece of land, the ministry said.
"The court may kindly direct the contemnors to purge their contempt by delivery of vacant possession of plot nos. 4-5 Kotla Road Institutional Area, New Delhi to BJP, Delhi..," the petition said.
Initially, Delhi unit of BJP was allotted a plot at Deen Dayal Upadhaya Marg here in 2001 and on May 8, 2007, the party made a payment of over Rs 1.30 crore to Land and Development office, the petition said.

However, later S Jaipal Reddy, the then Urban Development Minister, had asked BJP to consider accepting another plot as the allotted plot at Deen Dayal Upadhaya Marg was adjacent to the land given to Delhi unit of Congress and it may lead to "unpleasant" situations in future.