SC wants sealing resumed, developers to be blacklisted

Action is always against owner... However, it’s the builders, contractors and architects who violate laws

MB LOKUR, Supreme Court judge

NEWDELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the civic bodies to resume sealing and demolishing unauthorised shops and encroachments in the national Capital and gave the Centre two weeks to frame rules to crack down on builders, contractors and architects who violated municipal by-laws while constructing residential complexes.

The directive to resume sealing was issued by the bench of justices MB Lokur and Deepak Gupta after attorney general KK Venugopal, appearing for the Union urban development min- istry, denied that Land and Development Office (L&DO) of the ministry had instructed the municipal bodies in Delhi not to carry out the drive, as alleged by a court-monitored panel entrusted to oversee the sealing drive in the city.

“Based on the affidavit filed (by Urban development minis- try) we direct that there will be no stoppage of sealing or demolition,” the order said. On being told that officers participating in the sealing drive face threats from mobs and residents the bench directed the police to provide adequate security to such teams.

“Action should be taken when threats are given to the officers,” the order added.

The court also instructed civic agencies to immediately stop construction of buildings where irregular or illegal activity is spotted.

Venugopal welcomed the court’s order on pulling up errant builders and contractors.