The Hindu : New Delhi News : Remove encroachments, orders court

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 28, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Remove encroachments, orders court

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Asserting that encroachments on public parks, ridges and forest land in the Capital would not be tolerated, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to demolish forthwith all illegal structures on these stretches of land across the city.

A Division Bench of the Court comprising Justice Vijender Jain and Justice S. N. Aggarwal passed the direction on public interest litigation by a lawyer, Chetan Dutt, seeking demolition of encroachments and unauthorised constructions in the Kalkaji Extension area of South Delhi.

The Bench directed the DDA to demolish the unauthorised constructions and encroachments within a fortnight and file a compliance report in the Court on May 16, the next date of hearing.

Mr. Dutt had moved the Court way back in 2003 and in 2004 the Court had directed the DDA to demolish all the illegal structures and encroachments. However, the Authority had been avoiding the action on one pretext or the other.

The Court in 2005 issued contempt notices against DDA Vice-Chairman and Deputy Commissioner (Land Management) of the Authority. However, it later discharged the two officials when counsel for DDA assured that his client would take immediate action in the matter.

A year had passed since DDA assured the Court that it would take action against the builders and the encroachers but no action had been taken, Mr. Dutt submitted in the Court on Wednesday. The Court then fixed the time frame and ordered demolition of the illegal constructions and encroachments in the area.

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