Inquiry report on Lalita Park collapse may miss deadline

Another inquiry,ordered by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) soon after the collapse,was earlier extended indefinitely. The MCD is responsible for checking illegal constructions.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit instituted the inquiry by Justice Prasad two days after the building collapsed on November 15,stating that the report would be submitted within 90 days.

However,Justice Prasad’s inquiry continues in the midst of “operational problems”. The former judge had first complained of inadequate office infrastructure. A month after he began his inquiry,Prasad wrote to the Chief Secretary,complaining that the Delhi government hadn’t provided him pay and perks similar to that of a sitting High Court judge,a precondition for him agreeing to do the job.

Meanwhile,Opposition leader V K Malhotra of the Bhartiya Janata Party said that extension of the inquiry would be condemnable as the aim was to deliver a report quickly,given the scale of the tragedy. “And if the delay is because the government did not provide sufficient infrastructure or other support to the inquiry commission,then it’s just not acceptable,” Malhotra said.

A senior official,who processed the extension proposal,said though Dikshit declared the creation of the inquiry commission on November 17,its tenure officially began only on November 24 — when it was notified.

Justice Prasad met the Chief Secretary on Monday,the day the proposal was reportedly sent to his office. “Only the Chief Minister and the Lieutenant Governor can take a final call on this. But we expect the extension to be granted as the inquiry just cannot be completed by February 22,” an official said.

Another inquiry by the Chief Vigilance Officer of the MCD to fix responsibility has already been deferred indefinitely. “The officer wanted more time to submit an exhaustive report,” a senior MCD official.