File photo of Delhi High Court
The Centre and Delhi government have been given one month by the Delhi High Court, to decide on whether to regularise or demolish unauthorised construction in Sainik Farms colony of South Delhi.
A bench of Justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva directed the Delhi government to forward a concrete proposal on the regularisation or otherwise of Sainik Farms area within two weeks to the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD). The ministry has been asked to give its view on the proposal within two weeks of receiving the proposal.
The Court also said that the matter cannot go on "endlessly", listing it for further hearing on August 19.
The bench issued the directions after MoUD, represented by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain and advocate Anurag Ahluwalia, said it held several meetings with all stakeholders on regularisation of unauthorised colonies inhabited by affluent people and in one such meeting Delhi government had said it would frame regulations for the same.
The court's orders came on a PIL by an NGO alleging illegal construction in Sainik Farms as well as a plea of 54 residents of Defence Services Enclave (DSE) who have contended that the land was allotted to them by the central government in the 1960s, but till date the area has not been regularised due to which they have not been provided with Delhi Jal Board water connections.
The residents of DSE have alleged that such colonies were established in several parts of the country and except in Delhi, none of them are facing any problems.
The NGO, in its plea, has contended that over 500 fresh illegal constructions having huge structures have come up in the area and thousands of tonnes of building material are being taken there despite the Court's 2007 order prohibiting the same.