SC Stays Construction in Delhi’s 1,797 Unauthorised Colonies

The Delhi HC ordered a special task force to also remove encroachments from public roads and pavements.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday, 24 April, directed immediate stay on all construction activities in 1,797 unauthorised colonies of Delhi, and ordered a special task force to remove encroachments from public roads and pavements within two weeks, reported the Times of India.

Earlier on 2 April, the court slammed the Central government and other authorities over their inability to stop unauthorised construction in the national capital and asked it to justify its stand on laws protecting such constructions.

A bench of Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta had then expressed anguish over the protest against the ongoing sealing drive in Delhi, saying there is a “complete breakdown” of law and order in the city.

The bench told Additional Solicitor General (ASG) ANS Nadkrani, appearing for the Central government:

You cannot go on destroying Delhi. There has to be some reason. Tell us that there will be no ‘dharnas’ in Delhi. There is a complete breakdown of law and order in Delhi.

The bench put questions to the Central government relating the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2006 and subsequent legislations, which protect unauthorised construction from being sealed in Delhi.

In December last, while expressing concern over rampant illegal construction in Delhi, the apex court had said that the authorities do not appear to have carried out their statutory duties in preventing illegal construction and ordered restoration of its 2006 monitoring committee to identify and seal such offending structures.

In December 2017, the Union cabinet had approved the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2017, extending the immunity to illegal constructions in Delhi, and preventing their demolition or sealing till 31 December 2020.

(This story will be updated with more details.)

(With inputs from IANS, the Times of India)