The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) why the CBI should not probe the municipal staff or police officials who allowed “rampant” unauthorised constructions in the posh Sainik Farms area of South Delhi by taking “huge bribes”.
Taking a tough stand, the Delhi High Court asked the municipal corporation that whether all these people who took huge bribes to allow illegal construction, should be allowed to get away or should we wait for nature to take its courseIJ
A Bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Ashutosh Kumar also asked the SDMC, “What about all the 'beldaars', MCD officials, police officers who are roaming Sainik Farms and collecting their bountyIJ Courts should not give the impression that we
are toothless,”
“There has been rampant unauthorised construction going on there despite our January 12, 2001 order prohibiting any kind of construction there. let the CBI enquire as to who derelicted
their duty.”
“Wilful disobedience of court order is a serious issue. It would lead to anarchy. This is a sorry state of affairs that courts are being completely sidelined,” it said.
The court further said, “Somebody was at fault. You (corporation) cannot deny that there has been unauthorised construction. Blame has to fall on someone if unauthorized construction is going on despite the measures taken
by you”.
During the hearing, the bench said though the SDMC might be taking steps to prevent further unauthorised constructions, the “past
transgressions” cannot go unpunished.
Noting that the court was inclined to order a CBI probe, the SDMC counsel urged the Bench to defer its decision by a week so that it can show the steps taken by it to address the issue. The court, thereafter, listed the matter for hearing on November 9 when the SDMC has to explain why a CBI probe was not required.
While giving the corporation a week to explain why there should not be a CBI probe, the court directed that no heavy vehicle, including trucks and buses, barring school buses and emergency services vehicles, be permitted into the colony.
The direction came after an area development committee (ADC) of the colony alleged that building materials were being transported via buses and even ambulances.