New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday (July 9) came down heavily on authorities over the continued menace of unauthorised constructions in the Delhi-NCR region, observing that only “face-saving exercises” were being carried out instead of meaningful action. A bench comprising Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice Sheel Nagu said enforcement agencies were targeting builders while failing to hold accountable the officials responsible for allowing such violations.
“Only face-saving exercises are being done, where only builders, etc., are being apprehended and not the officials who are in charge of areas where rampant violations have happened,” the bench observed, reiterating concerns it had raised in its May 20 order.
Supreme Court Slams Authorities Over Illegal Constructions: What Did the Court Say?
The apex court warned that officials responsible for permitting illegal constructions would face personal accountability. Justice Amanullah remarked that despite directions issued by the Delhi High Court restraining illegal construction, “rampant work was done in collusion with MCD.” The bench expressed dissatisfaction with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), noting that while notices had been issued to violators, little follow-up action had taken place. “We will pass orders, and it will pinch a lot of people. We’ll attach personal responsibility on the officers and will speak through black and white,” the court said. Referring to its May 20 order, the bench recalled highlighting widespread violations in Lajpat Nagar and Sarojini Nagar, observing that such illegally altered structures were inherently unsafe because they were unable to withstand excessive structural loads.
What directions has the Supreme Court issued?
To independently assess the situation, the Supreme Court directed the constitution of an inspection team comprising two senior professors from IIT Delhi and two draftsmen, accompanied by MCD officials. The team has been asked to inspect Malviya Nagar, Saket and Lajpat Nagar in Delhi and submit its findings. Following submissions by the NDMC, the court confined the inspection to these localities in the capital, while directing a similar exercise in Lucknow’s Aliganj area. The inspections will be coordinated by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati. The court also directed the Tamil Nadu government to submit details of every action taken against illegal constructions in the state.
Supreme Court Slams Authorities Over Illegal Constructions: What prompted the court’s strong observations?
The court’s remarks come in the wake of several fatal incidents linked to alleged building safety violations. In May, a multi-storey building in Saidulajab, Saket, collapsed, killing six people. The structure housed a coaching institute, cafés and offices, while construction work was reportedly underway on the top floor. Police said the owner was attempting to add two more floors despite apparent violations. On June 22, at least 15 people were killed and nine others injured after a massive fire broke out in a three-storey commercial building in Lucknow’s Aliganj area.
Citing these tragedies, along with the Malviya Nagar fire, the Supreme Court said it had expected authorities to act after its earlier directions, but “nothing happened,” adding that such incidents across Delhi-NCR and Lucknow had been well documented.
