Delhi's Population Increasing Due To Subsidies But Infrastructure Is Outdated: High Court Constitutes Committee For Structural Reforms

The Delhi High Court on Friday constituted a Committee to revamp and reform the physical, financial and administrative infrastructure of the national capital.

“Whole Delhi infrastructure, physical and administrative, needs a relook,” a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said.

The Committee will be headed by the Chief Secretary of Delhi Government, and will also include Vice Chairman of DDA, Commissioner of Delhi Police as well as Commissioner of MCD.

The court passed the order while transferring from Delhi Police to CBI the investigation into deaths of three civil services aspirants due to drowning in a IAS coaching centre basement in Rajendra Nagar.

“This court is of the view that one needs to look at the bigger picture. As there is a far more fundamental problem in the city of Delhi, physical, financial and administrative infrastructure are all outdated and not in accordance with requirements of present day Delhi. With the population of excess of 3 crores, Delhi needs more modern physical and administrative infrastructure,” the court said while pronouncing the order.

The court said that due to various subsidy schemes, the migration in the national capital is only increasing and its population is also increasing.

“The financial health of civic agencies like MCD, if not precarious, is not healthy,” the court said.

It added that the court would not be wrong in concluding that civic agencies in Delhi have no funds to carry out major infrastructure.

“Physical infrastructure in Delhi like drains were laid nearly 75 years ago. The physical infrastructure to say the least is inadequate and poorly maintained,” the bench said.

Furthermore, the court said that the recent tragedies have shown that judicial directions are not followed in letter and spirit by civic agencies and that administratively, Delhi has multiplicity of authorities who are only passing the buck and blaming each other.

“Till date, this court has not been informed of any structural reforms by civic authorities to deal with unauthorised constructions. Even in GNCTD, getting new project sanctioned is not easy as there is no cabinet meeting in last few months and there is no certainty when next cabinet meeting will be held,” the court said.

It added that it is no wonder that Delhi is going from one crisis to another day, where one day there is problem of draught and other day there is flood.

The bench said that it is time that administrative, physical and financial infrastructure of Delhi is re-looked at.

“If you're going on a freebie culture. You won't know how to change the structure. One change in GST, the revenue is going up. You'll have to think out of the box. If you won't find revenue in a place like Delhi, you won't find it anywhere else,” ACJ told Delhi Government's counsel.

The bench also told MCD Commissioner that the civic body must ensure water has a way to flow in Delhi and if drainage needs to be revamped, the same should be done expeditiously.

“Prepare a plan. When it rained again day before, there was flooding again in the area. There is something fundamentally wrong. There is clear neglect on part of your officials. They get salaries to ensure people have good civic life. They are not weaklings. That's what their mandate it. You have to ensure your officials work. I'm sorry to say that your officials are not working,” the court remarked.

The development comes in a PIL seeking constitution of a High Level Committee to probe the death of three aspirants.

Also Read: Breaking | Delhi High Court Orders CBI To Probe Death Of Three Civil Aspirants In Coaching Centre Tragedy

Title: Kutumb v. State & Ors. 

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Del) 873