Illegal building back in race after HC razed panel on MCD plea

It seems encroachers are back on top barely a month after the MCD persuaded the High Court to do away with a committee for monitoring illegal construction in the Capital.

It seems encroachers are back on top barely a month after the MCD persuaded the High Court to do away with a committee for monitoring illegal construction in the Capital.

On Friday, a Bench led by Justice Mukul Mudgal sought a response from the civic body on a Public Interest Litigation PIL that said large-scale illegal building has gained speed after the court disbanded its panel and 10 court commissioners. The court had earlier wrapped up its panel and commissioners after MCD took offence to their 8220;interference8221;, and said there was no room for a parallel body to oversee the curb on unauthorised construction. A function, the MCD said, is exclusively within its own domain.

In return, the court was assured of a three-tier mechanism, starting right from the level of junior engineers in order to identify, demolish and monitor illegal buildings.

The MCD8217;s plan included fixing of accountability on its personnel 8212; from the level of junior engineers to additional commissioners.

The court had, however, cautioned MCD that it would reinstate the panel and court commissioners if evidence cropped up that the civic body8217;s mechanism was unable to contain the encroachers.

But if the petition filed by advocate R P Sharma is to be believed, unauthorised construction is going on in full swing in areas such as Dwarka and Karol Bagh.

Hardly a murmur is heard from the civic body on any steps to be taken to stop these encroachers, the petition says.

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It said the 8220;connivance between MCD officials, builders, politicians and bureaucrats8221; were writ large in the manner in which these constructions progressed8221;. Sharma alleged hat his letters to Deputy Commissioners of the respective zones has not been replied to so far.

8220;Massive unauthorised construction which is evident from different photographs produced in court clearly shows almost entire staff, right from junior engineer to deputy commissioner of the zone, including the nodal steering committee is answerable to court,8221; Sharma alleged.

The court has directed MCD to reply by December 18, the next date of hearing.