The Hindu : Front Page : Don't spare high and mighty, rules High Court

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 11, 2006

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Front Page

Don't spare high and mighty, rules High Court

Staff Reporter

A LAWLESS DRIVE?: "Public perception is that it is only the lower strata of society which encounter the brunt of law," observed the High Court about the ongoing demolition drive in Delhi.

NEW DELHI: Expressing strong displeasure over reported sparing of the mighty and the affluent during the ongoing demolition drive by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi against illegal and unauthorised constructions across the Capital, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the State Principal Secretary and the Municipal Commissioner to file an "Action Taken Report'' by January 31 in respect of properties owned and managed by some prominent local political leaders.

They include Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Ram Babu Sharma, Delhi Assembly Speaker Chaudhary Prem Singh, Delhi Finance Minister Ashok Kumar Walia, Delhi Jal Board Vice-Chairperson Anjali Rai, and MLAs Mukesh Sharma, Jai Bhagwan Aggarwal and Prahlad Singh Sawhney.

As for Mr. Sawhney, Justice Vikramjit Sen of the High Court noted that the MLA had filed public interest litigation in court seeking an interim stay on the demolition of illegal structures in the Capital ordered by the High Court.

Mr. Justice Sen directed the High Court Registry to send a copy of Tuesday's order to Delhi's Principal Secretary and Municipal Commissioner for necessary compliance.

Mr. Justice Sen took suo motu note of the sparing of unauthorised constructions of MLAs and Councillors by the MCD on the basis of newspaper reports published here and called for an "Action Taken Report''.

"Public perception is that it is only the lower strata of society which encounter the brunt of law. This perception must be rectified and this can only be achieved when the most influential meet with the rigours of law along with ordinary citizens. This vindicates the purpose of law,'' Mr. Justice Sen observed.

"The citizens are aggrieved and hurt by the fact that the demolition (drive) is being conducted in a discriminatory manner. There are press reports appearing everyday giving details of illegal and unauthorised constructions carried out by several MLAs in Delhi,'' the order said.

"Instead of voluntarily agreeing to become conforming users or to rectify or modify or remove their illegal constructions, the stand of the prominent and influential persons is that an Ordinance will be passed to regularise unauthorised construction. If this is so, ordinary citizens should be treated in a like manner,'' Mr. Justice Sen observed.

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