‘Ensure street lights near Laxmi Nagar dist centre’

THE DDA COUNSEL ADMITTED THAT THEY HAD BEEN MAINTAINING THE AREA BUT SOME ANTISOCIAL ELEMENTS CONTINUOUSLY BREAK LIGHTS IN THE PARK

NEWDELHI: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued a slew of directions to different authorities to ensure the safety of those living and working near the Laxmi Nagar district centre in east Delhi due to the absence of street lights and the presence of liquor shops in the area.

The court issued the directions to agencies such as DDA and Delhi Police, directing them to ensure there is proper lighting and adequate security.

A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V Kameswar Rao directed the police to put adequate security in place to stop crimes against women by drunkards, who take advantage of the dark.

The court was hearing a plea by a woman who had sought directions to the authorities to ensure safety and security in the area. The bench asked the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to ensure not even a single dark patch is left there.

“SHO police station, Preet Vihar, Delhi, is directed to put in place more security in the area and necessary safety measures for public and women working in

the LNDC. DDA shall make proper arrangements with regard to lightning in area. Also make sure no dark area is left in the district park,” the court said.

Appearing for the petitioner, her counsel contended that “anti-social elements” were damaging the street lights.

He said regular brawls between inebriated thugs and drunkards were a common sight here as they advantage of the extreme dark.

He said people drink openly in the park and broken liquor bottles are commonly seen.

Advocate Naushad Ahmed Khan, standing counsel for the Delhi government, informed the court that the park comes under the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which has to provide minimum basic facilities to the residents.

The DDA counsel admitted that they had been maintaining the area but some anti-social elements continuously break lights in the park.

The court then asked the commissioner of excise to take appropriate action on the representation of the petitioner in connection with liquor shops in the area. It directed all stakeholders to resolve the complaints within four weeks.

The plea had contended that there is risk to the safety of the women working around the area as there are no street lights on the road.