Devender v. Govt. of NCT of Delhi

1. All these petitions have been filed either in public interest or otherwise pointing out various illegalities in constructions made not only contrary to the sanctioned plan but also in contravention to the various laws including Municipal Corporation Act 1957, DDA Act 1957, NDMC Act, 1994, Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 and the Ancient 'O^ Monument Preservation Act, 1904, so also encroachment on public land / street etc.

2. It is the case ofeach ofthe petitioners before us that the authorities have permitted constructionsto be carried outin an illegal manner in various areas throughout the NCT of Delhi in violation of statutory provisions. Even footpaths have been encroached upon and constructions are being made. The matters were seized of, various orders were passed and we are informed that in one proceeding,due to violation ofcertain orders passed in W.P.(C)No.6818/2014,Contempt Case(C)No.90/2015 is pending before us and as directed by this Court in certain cases, a CBI enquiiy is also conducted and a report ofthe CBI has been produced before us in a sealed cover.

3. This Court while hearing the matters at various stages, had taken the assistance of Sh. Sanjay Jain, Sr. Adv./ Id. Amicus Curiae, who has also given certain suggestions in W.P.(C)No.5882/2017, which are available on record and reports with regard to the suggestions made in the matter of coordination between various authorities for removal of encroachments, assistance of police to be taken in the matter and various issues coimected with the difficulties faced while removing the encroachments by the authorities,so also suggestions with regard to development ofa software for implementing the provisions ofthe DMC Acthave been broughton record.

4. We have taken note of all these contentions, but today it has been brought to our notice that the Hon'ble Supreme Court is seized ofthe issue pertaining to illegal constructions both ongoing and constructions already concluded and in Writ Petition(s)(Civil) No(s). 4677/1985 M.C. Mehta v. Union ofIndia & Ors. various orders have been passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court. Two such orders passed on April 24, 2018 and July 18, 2018 have been broughtto our notice.

5. In the order passed on April 24, 2018, the issue of unauthorized construction in various colonies has been dealt with by the Hon'ble Supreme Court and with regard to both ongoing and constructions already completed and encroachments in various areas, the following directions have been issued by the Hon'ble Supreme Court:- "In view ofthis situation, we direct that there should not be anyfurther construction in unauthorized colonies including on public land beyond the existing building and other bye-laws. Consequently, all building and construction activity in the unauthorized colonies including onpublic land is stopped with immediate ejfect beyond the existing buildingand other byelaws applicable to authorized colonies. The concerned authorities willensure compliance. It has been submitted by learned AdditionalSolicitor General (Mr. Nadkarni) that a Task Force is contemplated that will ensure that the orders ofthis Court and the applicable byelaws are implemented and encroachments, etc. as well as unauthorized constructions are removed. The Task Force as suggested by learned Additional Solicitor General (Mr. Nadkarni) may be constituted with immediate effect. As afirst step, the Task Force should remove encroachments on public roads, public streets and pedestrian streets, as mentioned in the immediate action submitted by Mr. Nadkarni in a Revised Note dated IF''April, 2018. The needfulshould be done within aperiodoftwo weeksfrom today. We make it clear that the Monitoring Committee may suggest to the Task Force the areas where immediate action is required to be taken. It is stated by learned Additional Solicitor General (Mr. Maninder Singh) that about 27.02 acres of public land has been taken over by the Delhi Development Authority since 1st April, 2018. The details of this have not been mentioned. An affidavit should be filed givingfull details ofthe 27.02 acres ofpublic land that has been taken over by the Delhi Development Authority from unauthorized encroachments." Similarly, in the order passed on July 18, 2018 in the same case certain submissions made by the learned Attorney General have been taken note of and steps for receiving complaints, development of mobile application and registration of complaints pertaining to unauthorized constructions and encroachments have been indicated in the order. We are informed that based on various directions issued by the Hon'ble Supreme Court as indicated in the aforesaid petition, the Delhi Development Authority vide Office Memorandum No. O-33011/1/2006-DDI dated April 25, 2018 has constituted a Special Task Force consisting of about 15 Members,the objective ofthe Task Force and the Rules and procedure for functioning ofthe Task Force has been broughtto our notice.

7. That apart, by another Office Memorandum No. O-33011/1/2006- DDI issued by the DDA on May 23,2018,an action plan for monitoring all ongoing construction activities in Delhi,fixing ofresponsibilities in case of violation ofMasterPlan,unified Building Byelaws and issues with regard to illegal constmctions have been dealt with and even a plan for receipt of complaint with regard to illegal and unauthorized constructions already made and steps to be taken for their removal have been indicated. Once under the orders passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, a Special Task Force has been created and an action plan has also been drawn for the purpose ofpreventing any further illegal construction and also for removal ofconstructions unauthorizedly and illegally undertaken,now the purpose of all these writ petitions filed before us in public interest or otherwise stands fulfilled to a certain extent and further action are to be taken in the matter based on the duties entrusted to the Special Task Force and the action plan drawn under the supervision ofthe Hon'ble Supreme Court,that being so,it is not appropriate now for us to exercise ourjurisdiction in all these matters. Suffice it would be to say that allthese petitioners are granted liberty to raise appropriate pleas before the authorities as are notified in the Office Memoranda dated April 25,2018 and May 23,2018 and the authorities are directed to proceed in the matter as directed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court and indicated in the above-mentioned Office Memoranda with regard to grievance ofeach ofthe petitioners.

8. That apart, we are informed that in some of the cases, which have been pending before us, on directions issued, the Central Bureau of Investigation has conducted enquiry and has submitted certain preliminary reports. We direct the Registry to return back the same to the CBI. The CBI is granted liberty to proceed with the investigation in accordance with law and thereafter in case of any violation or commission of offence, the CBI would be at liberty to prosecute the person(s)concerned after following the due process of law. However, while doing so, the Central Bureau of Investigation shall take note of directions, if any issued by the Hon ble SupremeCourtinthisregard andthereafter proceedin accordance withlaw.

9. We are also conscious of the fact that the Contempt Case(C) NO. 90/2015 is pending before us on accoimt ofviolation of certain directions issued and we propose to deal with the same in accordance with law and therefore the Contempt Case(C) No. 90/2015 is kept pending to be dealt with by us in accordance with law.

10. With the aforesaid, we dispose of all the aforesaid matters granting liberty to the petitioners to proceed for making their complaints before the Special Task Force in accordance with the Scheme formulated and the procedure contemplated in the Office Memoranda, as are indicated hereinabove and the Special Task Force to deal with the complaints in accordance withlaw. All pending applicationsthereto,are also disposed of, as such. A CHIEF JUSTICE V.KAMESWARRAO,J