The Supreme Court on Wednesday severely criticised the central and Delhi governments as well as the civic bodies of the city for turning a blind eye to the unauthorised constructions in the Capital. It blamed these illegal constructions for the lack of greenery in Delhi and problems of pollution and parking, PTI report.
“The people of Delhi are suffering; our children are suffering,” the bench of justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said. “Our lungs are already damaged. The lungs of our children will also be damaged. Why? Because the Union of India, the Delhi government, Delhi Development Authority and municipal corporations of Delhi say you can do whatever you want, but we will not do anything,”
The Supreme Court told Additional Solicitor General ANS Nadkarni, who is representing the Centre, there would be no change in the state of Delhi until the authorities realise that “the people of Delhi are not cattle”.
The Supreme Court made the observations while hearing arguments on the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2006, and other legislation that protect unauthorised properties from being sealed in the city.
The ongoing sealing drive against illegal construction in the city, which started in December, is being conducted on the directions of a panel set up by the Supreme Court in 2006.
On Monday, the court had rebuked the Centre and other authorities for the “complete breakdown” of law and order in Delhi and the governance lapses that led to the strikes over the sealing drive.
The court also questioned what was being done about commercial establishments, such as retail and automobile showrooms, that had cropped up in residential areas. “It is a 30-year-old problem,” the judges said. “The MCD [Municipal Corporation of Delhi] was granting licences left, right and centre without having any concern for anybody...There is gross misuse of commercial establishments in residential areas. The people of Delhi are not relevant to you.”
At the hearing on Wednesday, after the additional solicitor general suggested that the top court monitor the work of authorities concerned with illegal constructions, the bench said: “Does the Supreme Court has nothing more to do? You are doing nothing, that is why we have to monitor several things.”
“When the Supreme Court says something, it is said there is judicial activism and judicial overreach,” the bench added. “This is happening. The government of India can shut its eyes, but we cannot. We have the constitutional obligations.”
Nadkarni said the Centre will discuss the concerns with representatives from the Delhi government, civic bodies and Delhi Development Authority to come up with suggestions to address the “mess” that the city is in.
The bench scheduled the next hearing in the case for April 9.
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