The National Green Tribunal on Thursday issued bailable warrant against Deputy Commissioner of South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) after no one appeared on behalf of the agency despite notice issued on a plea by residents of Panchsheel Park over high decibel levels of traffic in the area.
A bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, passed the order saying the presence of the SDMC official is necessary to adjudicate the matter. “Respondent 5 (SDMC) has been served and despite service, nobody is present on its behalf. Consequently, we issue bailable warrant against Respondent 5 in the sum of Rs 10,000,” the bench said. The tribunal had on August 27 issued notice and sought response of the city Government, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Public Works Department (PWD), SDMC, DDA and Delhi Police on the plea.
On Thursday, the counsel appeared on behalf of all parties, except SDMC, to file replies or to seek time for filing responses. Since no one appeared on behalf of SDMC, it prompted the bench to ask, “Why do we have to issue bailable warrants against bureaucrats to ensure their presenceIJ” The order came on the petition filed by Omesh Saigal, a resident of the South Delhi colony. In his petition, Saigal had alleged
that noise pollution along the Outer Ring Road was adversely affecting the health of the residents in the area.