Illegal constructions lying unsealed: HC seeks EDMC`s report

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has sought a status report from East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) on a plea seeking resealing of some properties in Shahdara area for having unauthorised constructions.

The PIL, filed by NGO Paardarshita Public Welfare Foundation, alleged that these properties sealed for having unauthorised constructions and then temporarily unsealed for 30 days. But these have not been resealed after the expiry of the period. A bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Siddharth Mridul directed EDMC to file its report before the next date of hearing on October 15. The petitioner had contended that the properties were temporarily desealed, to days, to bring them within the permissible yardsticks. "But they after left unsealed forever with the connivance of the engineers of Building Department and the builders or owners of the properties," the petition said, seeking resealing of such buildings. The petitioner contended that "a complaint was also sent to the Commissioner EDMC against engineers of the Building Department of Shahdara south zone for not resealing the properties which were de-sealed temporarily for 30 days", but till date no action has been taken. It also alleged that in some cases, the owners or builders are illegally occupying these properties. "Commissioner EDMC has failed to take action against the illegal properties which were desealed temporarily but lying unsealed illegally even after expiry of the stipulated period of 30 days," the petition, filed by the NGO through its general secretary H D Nijhawan, said. The petition has also alleged that the corporation is "not discharging its statutory duty diligently, properly and in a effective manner".