SC examines Centre move to regularise unauthorised colonies

The Supreme Court has started examining the move of the Central Government and DDA to regularise over 1,400 unauthorised colonies spread all over the national capital without providing basic infrastructure to over 25 lakh of their residents. A bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat, C K Thakker and Lokeshwar Singh Panta is examining Master Plan for Delhi, 2021 (MPD 2021) that permits mixed land use in residential colonies of the city by allowing commercial activities in the areas. Amicus curie and senior counsel Ranjit Kumar, opening the arguments for petitioners challenging the constitutional validity of MPD 2021, submitted before the court that the government has not been able to explain to the court till date that how and in what manner the basic infrastructure, including amenities such as water, electricity, schools, hospitals, roads, community centers and public conveniences, among others, was being trengthened. Mr Kumar also submitted that the government has not produced before the court the material that was taken into consideration by the government, while preparing MPD 2021, despite the court directions. According to the petitioner, the MPD 2021 seeks to protect land mafia, encroachers on public land and those indulging in illegal constructions in the city at the cost of law-abiding citizens. According to them, the government has been shielding law-breakers to preserve the votebank of political parties in power as this is the election year and assembly elections in Delhi are due to be held later this year. The hearing remained inconclusive and will continue tomorrow. The apex court had earlier fixed July 7, 8 and 9 for hearing of a batch of petitions against MPD 2021. MCD has virtually abandoned sealing operations in Delhi in spite of the apex court directions that all those commercial premises, which are not protected by the MPD 2021, have to be sealed and those included all commercial establishments operation from resettlement illegal colonies because MPD 2021 des not mention unauthorised colonies at all. By Ms.Bobby Aanand, Metropolitan Jury.

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