Report blames civic engineers for haveli mess

NEWDELHI: The Delhi High Court was on Friday informed that Haksar Haveli, where Indira Gandhi’s mother resided and where the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru got married to Kamala Nehru, is completely razed and only trace of its existence in past were seen. The report also blamed the officers and engineers of the municipality for overlooking illegal construction in and around the heritage building.

A bench of acting chief justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar were informed that a five storeyed residential building (G+5) has been partially constructed despite complete prohibition.

The inspection report was filed by advocate Anil Aggarwal, amicus curiae appointed by the court to assist it on the allegations of illegal construction at the Haksar Haveli and other such structures.

“It is clearly seen that the offi- cers and engineers of the municipality including the Deputy Commissioner were fully aware of unsafe and unauthorised construction being carried out in the area under their control and instead of taking action to immediately stop such construction, the officers and engineers protected and promoted the same for their vested interest as against the public interest and safety of people,” the report said.

The report also stated that, in an inspection conducted on April 4 pursuant to the orders of the court, the ground floor is stilted construction purportedly for parking of vehicles.

The inspection was carried out by the petitioner Kusum Sehgal, her counsel, Mohammad Qayamuddin, advocate KS Wahi along with Aggarwal.

During the proceedings on Friday, the north civic body said that they have conducted the inspection and would file a report in this regard soon.

Following this, the court fixed the matter for further hearing on May 14.