Refuting allegations by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi that the Delhi Police were given a written complaint on the illegal construction in Chandni Mahal where a building collapse on Tuesday claimed seven lives, the Joint Commissioner of Police (Northern Range) Sudhir Yadav denied having received any specific instruction in this regard.
‘No specific instruction'
“We had only received a copy of the letter issued to the owner of the building on September 16 asking him to stop illegal construction. There was no specific instruction in the communication. We could not take ac- tion on that,” said Mr. Yadav.
He further said that acting on the letter the local police had gone to the spot on September 25 and asked the contractor and the owner not to carry out any illegal activity. “We cannot carry out sealing or demolition drives. It is the job of the MCD. We give them assistance in carrying out these drives,” said Mr. Yadav.
Referring to Section 466 (A) of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, Mr. Yadav said: “The police can take action against a person who indulges in illegal construction only if there is a compliant from a municipal official not below the rank of the Deputy Commissioner. In this case, the police had little role as there was no such intimation or direction from the official.”
