MCD, DDA pulled up by court

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, AUG. 16.

The Delhi High Court today pulled up the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Commissioner and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) Vice-Chairman for their failure to remove unauthorised constructions around the Jama Masjid.

A Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Arajit Pasyat, and Mr. Justice D.K. Jain dangled the contempt of court threat before Mr. S.P. Aggarwal, MCD Commissioner, and Mr. P.K. Hota, DDA Vice-Chairman, present in the court, saying their failure to implement the court orders for demolition of illegal structures around the mosque amounted to disrespect to the court.

The court has extended four times the deadline for clearing the illegal structures. The two agencies has also drawn up an action plan for removing these structures, but so far they have done nothing to show in the name of demolition of these illegal constructions.

The Bench pooh-poohed apprehension expressed by counsel for the DDA that there would a law and order problem if the two agencies took up the job of removing the illegal structures there.

The Bench gave another deadline to the two agencies to implement the court orders and asked them to file a status report on follow-up action by September 6.

The DDA had on August 8 removed encroachments on the Shahi Path approach road leading to the main gate of the mosque.

The DDA removed more than 200 vendors squatting on the approach road, and also a large number of heavy machinery dumped there by local traders for their repair and resale.

In all, about 25 to 30 truckloads of material were removed by a 200-strong demolition squad with six cranes, seven JCBs and 25 tempos and trucks.

It is understood that the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid had been taken into confidence by the Delhi police before the encroachments were removed as the area is considered to be communally sensitive.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Other States
Previous : After the Monkeyman, here's Mr. Horror
Next     : Khurana warns on CNG issue