HC whips MCD for demolition delay

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notices to the

Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the Delhi Government and the Centre on a petition seeking dissolution of the civic body for not complying with the direction of the court in connection with the demolition of illegal constructions in the capital.

A division bench comprising Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Rekha Sharma asked the respondents to file the reply by March 22, the next date of hearing.

The court also asked the MCD to remove the 95 officials chargesheeted for their alleged involvement in corrupt practices from the Buildings Department.

Expressing anguish over the 'cosmetic demolition' crried out, the court asked the MCD Commissioner to pull down all illegal constructions and file an action taken report by the next date of hearing.

Apart from the 18,000 buildings listed on the website, there are thousands of buildings in the capital which are also illegal, the court said.

The MCD must initiate action to demolish these structures.

Talking about the demolitions in the Lal Dora area (Village area) on MG Road in South Delhi, the court said the MCD had followed a pick-and-choose policy.

"Why the authorities only demolished MG I and MG II shopping complexes and let other buildings stand on the same road. The law cannot dance to the tune of mobocracy," it said.

The authorities should not succumb to the pressures of the big fish while carrying out demolition of illegal structures, the court added.