Delhi to File Review Petition in Supreme Court on Older Vehicle Ban
In Delhi, the Supreme Court on Friday issued a stringent directive, asserting that anyone involved in illegal constructions in Chandni Chowk must be arrested immediately. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi condemned the ongoing unauthorized building activities as a “complete fraud going on in collusion with municipal corporation officials.” The court emphasized that no residential property should be converted to commercial use, mandating strict compliance with demolition orders and the deployment of police patrols to curb further violations.
The Supreme Court, hearing a plea from a petitioner-in-person, expressed severe displeasure over the continuation of illegal constructions despite previous court-ordered bans. The bench questioned how such unauthorized activities could persist without the alleged collusion of civic authorities. To combat this, the court explicitly directed the Delhi Police Commissioner to deploy dedicated teams for daily patrolling in Chandni Chowk, ensuring meticulous compliance with all demolition orders issued by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) that have not received any judicial stay.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court ordered that properties where illegal or unauthorized constructions are ongoing must be immediately sealed. The court cited a specific case of an elderly woman whose ground floor residential property saw its second floor illegally converted into commercial space by a builder. The bench demanded details of such builders, asserting that suitable penal action would be taken against them. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has been directed to file an inspection report of the area, while the local Deputy Commissioner of Police must submit a compliance report at the next hearing.
These stern directives follow previous warnings from the apex court, including orders in May that aimed to halt commercial construction and conversion of residential buildings in the area. Despite these earlier pronouncements, reports indicated continued violations, leading the court to adopt a more aggressive stance. The court stressed that those found violating the ban by “laying even a single brick” would face immediate arrest, signaling zero tolerance for non-compliance and alleged malpractices.
Across Delhi, the Supreme Court’s resolute measures aim to curb rampant illegal constructions in Chandni Chowk, emphasizing zero tolerance for violations and alleged collusion. This firm directive seeks to restore legality, ensure public safety, and preserve the historic character of the iconic area through strict enforcement and enhanced accountability from civic and police authorities.
