Court raps civic body over Sainik Farms buildings

ILLEGAL ACTIVITY HC asks SDMC if it doesn’t want a CBI probe

NEWDELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday gave a week to the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to explain why it did not want the CBI to enquire into the illegal constructions in Sanik Farms.

There is a blanket ban on any construction activity in Sainik Farm since 2001 after a high court direction. Even entry of construction material in the area is banned, which was to be checked by South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and the South Delhi police.

A bench of Justice BD Ahmed and Justice Ashutosh Kumar had on last hearing hinted at a possible direction to CBI to conduct a preliminary enquiry against the municipal or police officials under whose watch unauthorised construction came up in Sainik Farms.

Senior advocate Sandeep Sethi, appearing for SDMC, pleaded that a CBI enquiry was not necessary as the corporation has taken adequate steps to stop all illegal construction in the area. “Who are you trying to protect? Your clients who have allowed all these,” the court asked the SDMC’s counsel.

“You may have taken steps, but you would admit that there has been construction after 2001,” the court said pointing towards Google image which showed that even between 2010 and 2014 many buildings have come up in Sainik Farms.

The bench described the “wilful disobedience” of court’s order as a serious offence which if left unpunished could lead to “anarchy”. The bench made it clear that it was not going to give clean chit to anybody who indulged in dereliction of duty.

Rahul Mehra, Delhi government’s senior standing counsel, told the court that Principal Secretary was in deliberation with stakeholder on a proposal to regularize Sainik Farms areas.

During the hearing, it was pointed out that construction materials continue to be transported inside Sanik Farms using trucks and buses. Following this, the court ordered fresh ban on entry of heavy vehicles such as trucks and buses inside Sainik Farms with the exception of school buses, emergency servi-

THERE IS A BLANKET

BAN ON ANY CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY IN SAINIK FARM SINCE 2001 AFTER A HIGH COURT DIRECTION.

ces – ambulances, fire services, and police.

The arms licensing unit of Delhi police told the Delhi High Court on Wednesday that it did not have separate records regarding cancellation of arms licences due to celebratory firing.

After the death of a 17-year-old girl who was hit by a stray bullet during a wedding procession in Mangolpuri in April this year, the high court had asked the police to submit its response.

Celebratory gunfire wherein shots are fired in air during weddings are common in northern India. The licensing unit said it initiates action against an arms licence holder only after it receive a report from police regarding involvement of licensees in criminal cases including acts endangering life or personal safety of others.

It said there are already adequate legal provisions to regulate any such incidents.

While an arms licence is issued for self-protection or security under the Arms Act, 1959, any other use such as firing in air during marriages, religious functions or social gatherings is illegal and may result in cancellation of the license and initiation of legal action, the affidavit stated.