The national Capital is being “ravaged” by unauthorised encroachments and illegal constructions, the Supreme Court said on Thursday as it rejected the Centre’s plea seeking modification of an order asking it to invite suggestions from the public before amending the Master Plan of Delhi (MPD) 2021.
A Bench of Justices Madan B lokur and Navin Sinha directed the Centre to “expeditiously implement the order dated May 15 in letter and spirit keeping the interest of the public of Delhi in mind”.
The top court had on May 15 asked the Centre to give a window of 15 days to the people of Delhi to give suggestions or objections to the Government which had proposed amendments to the Delhi’s Master Plan.
The Centre had sought modification of the order while objecting to the 15-day time on several grounds including it may create “law and order” problem.
“Again unfortunately, instead of taking the people of Delhi into confidence with regard to amendments to the Master Plan, a bogey of public order and rioting has been sought to be communicated to us as if the law and order situation in Delhi was getting out of control.
“We are at a loss to understand the hyper-reaction and how changes in the Master Plan are sought to be brought about without any meaningful public participation with perhaps an intent to satisfy some lobbies and curtailing a period of 90 days to just 3 days on some unfounded basis. It must be appreciated that the people of Delhi come first,” the Bench said in its order.
“It has been recorded that Delhi is being ravaged by unauthorised encroachments and illegal constructions with impunity and none of the civic authorities, including the Delhi Development Authority was sincerely carrying out its statutory duties,” it said.
The court said it had to step in because the situation in Delhi warranted this, due to the apathy of the civic authorities.
It said there was no need to curtail the statutory period for inviting suggestions from the public on proposed amendments in the Master Plan.
The Bench said Attorney General KK Venugopal pointed out to the public order situation which had necessitated the amendment to the Rules and curtailing the period of 90 days for filing objections by the public to three days.