New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Delhi police Commissioner to appear on Wednesday to explain why adequate police force was not provided to the Monitoring Committee for sealing unauthorised premises in the capital on April 3, 4 and 9.

A Bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat, C.K. Thakker and L.S. Panta took exception to counsel's stand that for the Commissioner attending court was not more important than maintaining law and order.

Earlier, amicus curiae Ranjit Kumar brought to its notice the committee report that adequate force was not provided for the sealing drive on the premises not covered under the Master Plan Delhi (MPD) 2021. Officials of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) also did not cooperate, he said.

When the Bench indicated that it would ask the Police Commissioner to personally explain the reasons, police counsel Ashok Bhan said he had to take care of the law and order situation in the aftermath of the MCD elections. "It is not that important that he should be present."

The Bench said: "We do not accept your statement. Unfortunately, for everyone the Supreme Court is becoming an unimportant institution." It directed that the Police Commissioner and area officers be present, bringing with them affidavits. The MCD Commissioner should also file a similar affidavit.

The court made it clear that sealing of unauthorised premises not covered under the MPD 2021 would continue.

The amicus curiae said the sealing drive was not being carried out by the MCD as per the court directions. However, MCD counsel Sanjeev Sen said no police protection was being provided to the civic body despite repeated requests. Mr. Ashok Bhan claimed that adequate force could not be provided to the MCD in view of the police commitment to law and order duties.

The Delhi Pradesh Citizen Council and others in their petitions contended that with the notification of the MPD-2021 the court directions had come to a halt. Further, the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957, the New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1985, the Delhi Development Act and other relevant laws had not been taken into consideration while preparing the MPD-2021.

The petitioners said extensive alterations had taken place in the Master Plan; consequently, the standards of population of density were seriously affected. The fallout of the Master Plan, permitting commercial use of residential areas, would be further destruction of the quality of life.

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