Supreme Court-appointed amicus curiae seeks direction to MCD on action taken against illegal constructions

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In view of the facts, the Supreme Court “may be pleased to direct the MCD to file an affidavit indicating survey conducted and action taken against illegal and unauthorised constructions as well as cases concerning unauthorised use of residential premises of all properties located within the precincts of the Municipal Corporation in Delhi”. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu

A court-appointed amicus curiae has moved the Supreme Court seeking various directions, including the one asking civic body MCD to file an affidavit indicating the survey conducted and action taken against illegal and unauthorised constructions in the national capital.

The urgent intervention has been sought following the collapse of an allegedly illegally constructed five-storey building in Delhi’s Saidulajab area that claimed six lives and injured at least 14 people on May 30.

On March 25, a bench comprising Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R. Mahadevan, while hearing a matter arising from Tamil Nadu, expressed serious concern over widespread violations of building regulations and the alleged failure of municipal authorities to prevent unauthorised constructions.

It had directed a pan-India inquiry into the misuse of residential properties and illegal land-use conversions.

Senior advocate and amicus curiae Ajit Kumar Sinha, in a status report filed on June 4 through advocate Govind Jee, has approached the top court seeking urgent intervention following the collapse of the building in Saidulajab area.

Mr. Sinha said the tragedy underscored the larger problem of rampant illegal constructions and alleged regulatory failures.

The report said the building, located at Saidulajab, was allegedly booked by municipal authorities on multiple occasions for unauthorised construction. According to municipal records cited in the report, violations were first recorded in 2012, followed by further bookings in 2015 for additional floors.

The report alleges that despite these actions, no effective enforcement measures we