NEW DELHI: More than two months have passed since the Delhi High Court directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to take action against the `big fish', mainly politicians, for carrying out illegal constrictions and violating building by-laws, but the senior civic body officials are still "studying the files" even as the common man in the Capital is forced to face its bulldozers and sealing squads every day.

Though the twin drives have been continuing across the city, bulldozing unauthorised portions of houses and sealing illegal shops operating from residential premises, not a single politician's house has been touched by the MCD squads. Senior MCD authorities do not want to comment on it as the matter is still being "examined" by them.

After media reports highlighting illegal constructions at several politicians' residences, a Division Bench of the High Court comprising Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Rekha on January 31 had asked to take action against politicians, including Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikhsit and former Mayor Satbir Singh.

The order came after the MCD informed that court that it had served notices on Ms. Dikshit, Delhi Assembly Speaker Chaudhary Prem Singh, Delhi Finance Minister A.K. Walia, Health Minister Yoganand Shastri, Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Ram Babu Sharma, and some other MLAs and Councillors asking them to explain why action be not taken against them for violating the building by-laws.

"Interestingly, while interacting with the media, several leading politicians and MCD officials had stated that action would be taken against `big fish'. Even Union Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay Maken had categorically stated that the `big fish' would not be spared. But the people are yet to see action against those in power," remarked senior Bharatiya Janata Party councillor Vijender Gupta.

Charging senior MCD authorities and Congress leadership with shielding its leaders, Mr. Gupta asked why the civic body officials were silent on the issue. "Why are they not coming out clean on this crucial matter? They have neither taken any action against these leaders nor have they given them clean chit. While citizens are being targeted without giving them any chance to plead their case, politicians' cases are still being examined. This is mockery of the law," he said.

Congress leaders also see this as an important issue that could boomerang on them in the coming months. "How will people have faith on us when we shield our own leaders? It is the last chance for us to come out clean on the entire issue by proving that law is equal for all. Leaders of all political parties are involved in this and action should be taken against all of them," said a senior Congress Councillor, speaking on condition of anonymity.

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