SC stops bulldozers, to examine MCD’S action

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday restrained the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (North MCD) from carrying out any demolition drive in riothit Jahangirpuri until its further orders, adding it would take a “serious view” of the apparent disobedience of its directive to immediately stop the bulldozers in the area on Wednesday.

Turning down the municipal authority’s plea not to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) against its actions when affected individuals were not before the court, a bench, headed by justice L Nageswara Rao, sought explanations from the North MCD and the Delhi Police for razing around 50 structures in the Jahangirpuri neighbourhood a day ago without issuing any prior notices.

The action came just four days after communal violence roiled the area during a Hanuman Jayanti procession, leading to nine people being injured — eight policemen and a civilian. Opposition political parties and civil society members have described the demolition drive as an act of “revenge”, even as the North MCD has maintained that it was a “routine” drive. Delhi’s three MCDS are under the control of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The bench, which also comprised justice BR Gavai, indicated that it may seek an explanation from the North Delhi mayor (Raja Iqbal Singh) as to why the authority continued tearing down structures for about an hour-and-a-half even after he was reportedly apprised of the court order on maintaining status quo.

At 11am on Tuesday, the apex court ordered status quo (to remain in existing condition) on an urgent plea by a clutch of lawyers, complaining against the ongoing demolition at Jahangirpuri — although it took another 90 minutes for the local body to stop the demolition drive, citing non-receipt of any order from the apex court.

The bench was informed on Thursday that former MP and CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat was on the spot of demolition in Jahangirpuri, and she brought