HC summons Jalandhar DC, MC commissioner

The Punjab and Haryana high court, on Wednesday, summoned Jalandhar deputy commissioner and commissioner municipal corporation, following a public interest litigation (PIL) alleging that despite bringing it to their notice, no action was being taken against illegal construction of commercial buildings in the city.

The bench of justice Krishna Murari and justice Arun Palli have asked both officials to appear in court on May 17.

The petitioner cited some 50 examples of alleged violation, which the court was told, have been brought to the attention of authorities time and again, but no action has been taken. Most violations have been reported in commercial buildings, which the petitioner said compromised safety of citizens.

The court was told that no person has the authority to undertake any form of construction without prior sanction of his building plans from the commissioner.

The petitioner also sought action against local body officials, alleging that such multi-storeyed structures could not have come up without the connivance of the officials since all construction in municipal limits is regulated under provisions of The Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act, 1995.

The petitioner Simranjit Singh, a local resident had initially brought the matter to the notice of the local bodies department in March 2018. The MC began a demolition drive in June 2018, but it was stopped under the influence of local leaders from the ruling party. No action was taken thereafter despite orders from the department.

“The deputy commissioner ( MC) and secretary (local bodies) have been summoned for Friday,” confirmed the petitioner’s counsel, HPS Ishar. However, a detailed order from the court is awaited.