New Delhi: Taking note of the house collapse
in East Delhi in which 70 persons were killed, a city court
has asked the state government and MCD to take remedial
measures against poorly-built houses.
"The building is situated in a thickly-populated urban
colony posing danger to human habitation in the
neighbourhood... State is directed to do the needful in such
matters," Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Rakesh
Pandit said.
The court`s order came on the complaint by a city
resident Rajender Chabra who had entered into an agreement in
2005 with a real estate company, M/s Showman Construction and
Impex Private Ltd, and its three directors for getting
constructed a house on his plot at Greater Kailash in South
Delhi.
The Economic Offence Wing of the Delhi police, in its
status report, had endorsed the allegations of the complainant
saying "the material used in building the house were of very
poor quality and the building was prone to damages in
earthquakes."
It was also opined in the report that the building
should be immediately "dismantled".
The court, which had earlier ordered registration of
an FIR against the company and its directors, asked the Delhi
government, MCD and the police to take necessary steps.
"Interestingly, one building in which the alleged
inferior quality construction was carried out had fallen in
the jurisdiction of Shakarpur police station here and in which
more than 70 persons have died. The probable danger of this
construction is of similar nature," the court said.
"Considering the probable danger in existence in urban
human habitation in Delhi itself, this is a serious matter,"
it said while posting the matter for further hearing on
November 28.
Earlier, the court had ordered registration of FIR
against the real estate company, and its four officials --
Avdhesh Mittal, Sunil Goyal, Ashok Gupta and Bharti Dogra --
under various provisions of the IPC, pertaining to cheating,
restraining a person and criminal conspiracy.
The complainant and his brothers, who jointly owned a
plot measuring 500 square yards, had entered into a business
deal with the company for building a strong, earthquake-proof
three-storeyed house.
Later, Chabra panicked and approached the court
alleging that the accused were cheating him by using poor
quality material. The police favoured demolition of the
structure.
PTI
