"Authorities Washing Away Hands": Delhi High Court Expresses Dismay Over Unauthorized Constructions In Okhla Industrial Area

The Delhi High Court on Thursday pulled up the local municipal authorities of Delhi for "washing away their hands" in connection with encroachment on public land in Okhla Industrial area.

The Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla directed the South Delhi Municipal Corporation and the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation to take swift action for removing the unauthorised constructions from the area.

The Bench also directed the authorities to nominate Nodal Officers who shall be responsible to chalk out a plan to remove the encroachments from public land.

The development ensued in a suo moto case registered by the High Court against illegal constructions and encroachments on public land in Okhla Industrial Area Phase-III. The case was registered based on a letter dated 7th July, 2017 received from one SB Tehkhandia.

The letter alleged that the illegal constructions and encroachments on public land have not been removed despite orders passed by the Court. It was further stated that the local citizens are facing a lot of inconvenience due to illegal grabbing of public land and road.

Today, the Court expressed dismay over SDMC and DSIIDC shifting responsibility on each other with respect to unauthorized construction and the jurisdiction to remove it. Thus, it directed both the bodies to file minutes of meeting to be held with the nodal officers and the status report indicating the action taken to remove the encroachment. It also directed the DCP (South) to provide necessary support for removal of encroachment in the area.

"This is an unfortunate state where two authorities are washing their hands on encroachment on public land," the bench remarked.

Case Title: Court on its own motion v. GNCTD

Case No.: W.P.(C)3168/2022