The Delhi High Court has issued a stern rebuke to the city’s administration, criticising its pervasive ‘freebies culture’ and the inadequate state of urban infrastructure. On Thursday, the court expressed grave concerns while adjudicating a series of petitions highlighting the official negligence linked to the tragic deaths of three UPSC aspirants. The bench characterised the civic authorities’ performance as “bankrupt,” accusing them of failing to align revenue collection with the burgeoning needs of the city.
Acting Chief Justice and Justice presiding over the case expressed frustration with the city’s fiscal management and urban planning. “The city’s administration is caught in a cycle of offering freebies while shirking tax collection responsibilities. This imbalance results in a chronic underfunding of essential services and infrastructure,” the court remarked. In response to these concerns, the court has summoned the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) commissioner and the local Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for a briefing on Friday. The court highlighted a stark discrepancy between the city’s planning and its current population, which stands at approximately 33 million—far exceeding the original design capacity of 600,000 to 700,000 people. This shortfall, the bench noted, has led to severe infrastructure deficits, such as inadequate drainage systems. “There is a critical disconnect between the demands of the population and the facilities provided,” the court noted, criticising the lack of an effective master plan for drainage systems.
Further exacerbating the situation, the bench noted the peculiar plight of Delhi residents who often face severe water shortages followed by unexpected floods. In a bid to address immediate concerns, the court has directed the removal of all encroachments from drains in Old Rajender Nagar by Friday.
This move underscores the court’s commitment to addressing infrastructural inadequacies and ensuring that urban planning aligns more closely with the city’s needs. The judicial scrutiny reflects growing frustration with the city’s governance and its failure to adapt infrastructure to the demands of a rapidly expanding population, highlighting a need for urgent reform in both planning and resource allocation.
