Delhi Lokayukta Manmohan Sarin has directed the Commissioner of South Delhi Municipal Corporation and the Delhi Police Commissioner to take action in a complaint filed before him by Nishpaksh NGO alleging illegal parking on footpaths and encroachments along large parts of West and South-West Delhi.
Along with his complaint, NGO director S.K. Saxena had submitted photographs showing encroachment on public pathways and roads by showrooms of branded automobiles, car dealers, roadside eateries and rehriwalas (vendors). He had alleged that rampant violation of laws was taking place in and around Dwarka and had accused some public functionaries of being involved in the illegalities or shielding the guilty.
The Lokayukta, however, held that the allegations made against the public functionaries were general and sweeping in nature without any specific averment regarding the collective or individual role of each of the accused persons named by him. “There are only bald averments that public functionaries appear to be directly or indirectly giving protection to encroachments and illegal parking on footpaths. There is no basis or foundation laid for supporting the allegations,’’ he said, while dismissing the complaint against them on the ground that it was “held not to be disclosing any cause of action’’.
However, in view of the photographs, Mr. Justice Sarin said it appeared that the fact of parking on footpath is rampant and pervasive in the area and he thus issued notices to the police and the Municipal Commissioner.
