SC issues notices to Centre, MCD on master plan

New Delhi, Oct 29 (UNI) The Supreme Court today issued notices to the Center and MCD on a petition challenging their move to regularise about 1500 unauthorised colonies in Delhi without providing basic infrastructre.

A bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and Lokeshwar Singh Panta issued notices after hearing counsel for the petitioner who contended that in the Master Plan for Delhi (MPD) 2021, there was no mention of the unauthorised colonies and hence these did not have the protection of the plan.

The apex court directed the respondents to file their responses within six weeks stating therein what were the plans of the government to provide basic amenities like water, power, roads, schools and community centres, etc in the colonies.

It also granted four weeks time to the petitioner to file a rejoinder and adjourned the matter to February 12 of the next year.

According to the applicant, those living in authorised colonies are paying taxes and all charges for the basic facilities while over 25 lakh people living in the illegal colonies are enjoying everything without paying any charges or taxes. Since the master plan does not include these colonies for regularisation, the same cannot be regularised and hence the government decision to regularise these colonies should be quashed.

UNI