Sealing issue: apex court raps Centre for breakdown of law and order in the Capital

Asks about legislations that protect unauthorised construction from being sealed

New Delhi: Traders shout slogans as they take part in a 'Katora' protest against the ongoing sealing in the city, in New Delhi on Sunday. PTI Photo(PTI2_25_2018_000071B)

There is a “complete breakdown” of law and order in Delhi, the Supreme Court said on Monday while expressing anguish over the strikes and ‘dharnas’ against the ongoing sealing drive in the national Capital.

The top court came down heavily on the Centre and other authorities for their “failure” to do their job, saying that a “very serious issue” concerning governance has arisen.

A Bench of Justices Madan B. Lokur and Deepak Gupta asked searching questions to the Centre over the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2006, and subsequent legislations which protects unauthorised construction from being sealed.

“You cannot go on destroying Delhi. There has to be some reason,” the Bench told Additional Solicitor General (ASG) A.N.S Nadkrani, appearing for the Centre.

‘Justify your stand’

“Tell us that there will be no ‘dharnas’ in Delhi. There is a complete breakdown of law and order in Delhi,” the Bench said, while asking the Centre to justify its stand supporting the laws which protects unauthorised constructions.

The ASG said there were lakhs of immigrants in Delhi due to which there was a gap between demand and supply and there were around 1,400 unauthorised colonies, housing around six lakh families.

However, the top court took exception to the fact that no official data and figures were available on record regarding the number of such people residing in such colonies and unauthorised structures.

“The government and its bodies are not doing their jobs. This is an admission of failure by you [the Centre],” the Bench observed.