A week after an illegal five-storey building collapsed in Delhi’s Saidulajab area, killing six persons and injuring at least 14, a plea in the Supreme Court has sought directions to Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to spell out action taken against unauthorised constructions in the national capital.
In a report filed in the top court on June 4, senior advocate and amicus curiae Ajit Kumar Sinha demanded the top court’s urgent intervention, saying the Saidulajab tragedy highlighted the larger problem of rampant illegal constructions and regulatory failures.
It urged the court to direct the Government of NCT of Delhi to furnish an affidavit indicating the manner in which the families of the deceased may be compensated.
The report wanted the Delhi Government and city police to furnish an action taken report (also indicating the alleged involvement of MCD officers) on the recent building collapse.
Allegedly booked by municipal authorities on multiple occasions for unauthorised construction, violations at the building located at Saidulajab were first recorded in 2012, followed by further bookings in 2015 for additional floors, the report stated.
Despite reported violations, no effective enforcement measures were taken and construction continued, culminating in the addition of fourth and fifth floors shortly before the collapse, the amicus curiae said, alleging MCD failed to discharge its statutory obligations by not taking timely action, including sealing the premises or preventing further construction.
The amicus curiae requested the top court to direct MCD “to file an affidavit indicating survey conducted and action taken against illegal and unauthorised constructions as well as cases concerning unauthorised use of residential premises of all properties located within the precincts of the Municipal Corporation in Delhi”.
He sought a direction to MCD to conduct structural audit of all premises located within the precincts of the municipal corporation in Delhi and carry out sealing as well as demolition of the illegal structures in a time bound manner.
The report urged the top court to direct MCD to furnish a detailed affidavit indicating the manner in which illegal construction of a five-storeyed building located at Plot No. 261, Western Marg, Said-ul-Azaib, New Delhi was permitted to continue along with action taken against erring officials.
Expressing serious concern over widespread violations of building regulations and alleged failure of municipal authorities to prevent unauthorised constructions, a Bench of Justice A Amanullah and Justice R Mahadevan had on March 25 ordered a pan-India inquiry into the misuse of residential properties and illegal land-use conversions.
