HC lashes out at DDA VC for not complying with directions

New Delhi, Aug 1 (UNI) Delhi High Court today flayed the Vice-Chairman of Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for not complying with the court's orders on demolition of unauthorised construction of farm houses on the outskirts of the city.

DDA VC Dinesh Rai, present in the court in connection with the court's notice to him for the non-compliance of the orders to demolish unauthorised construction in nine farmhouses -- near the Shiva idol on the Delhi-Jaipur highway, was asked why action should not be taken for not carrying out the court's orders despite repeated reminders.

A Special Bench comprising Chief Justice M K Sharma and Justice Rekha Sharma were furious at the official's reply,who contended that he could not carry out the court orders as the file pertaining to the farm houses in question was lying with the Lieutenant Governor.

The bench was was the verge of initiating contempt procedings against the official, and the judge had started dictating the order when Mr Rai tendered his apology and assured the court that if time is granted, then the DDA will comply with the court directions.

The court then directed him to carry out the action and file the status report in the court within 2 weeks from now. It directed the police to provide all assistance required.

Taking cognisance of the Court Commissioner Sanjeev Ralli's report stating the nine farmhouses were violating the court orders and despite the ongoing unauthorised, no action had been taken by the civic agencies, the HC had directed DDA and the MCD to demolish the unauthorised constuctions.

Expressing itself ''shocked'' to find that the official records were being ''manipulated at various levels by manipulating the property tax assessment'', the bench also ordered an inquiry in the nexus of the farmhouse owners with officials, politicians and other authorities.

''It is not one person who is involved but all are involved.

It seems there is someone who is pulling the strings from behind, which requires a deeper probe,'' it said.

During the court proceedings, the Muncipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) filed its status report on the assessment of property tax of the nine farm houses, which said departmental action has been taken against one Surbhi Varshney who carried out the assessment, and thereby the completion certificare was issued to them. Ms Varshney, who was on deputation in MCD, has been repatriated to her original cadre. At this, the court sought to know from both agencies as to what action has been taken against the other officers, instrumental in getting through this unauthorised construction.

The court comissioner's report had stated that DDA and MCD manipulated many records, to show that the construction in this farmhouses was old and done two to three years prior to the January 1, 2006 deadline.

Lashing out at the DDA VC, the bench sought to know why the agency did not have the facility of the satellite mapping system, easily available elsewhere, which would have established the facts of construction being done after the January 1,2006 deadline.

It sought to know from the MCD as how they issued the house tax clearance when there was no completion certificate. ''The farmhouses built on the periphery of Delhi have no sanction plan therefore all constructions without a sanction plan amount to be illegal but the DDA and MCD are protecting the farmhouses,'' it observed.

The bench expressed itself shocked at the way ''how the civic authorities can in one way or other scuttle the action ordered by the court, and how false affidavits were being filed in the court to show a wrong picture.'' UNI SNG VD RAI1902