Supreme Court Slams Municipal Authorities Over Illegal Constructions, Seeks Reports

The Supreme Court on Thursday reprimanded municipal authorities in Delhi, Gurugram, Lucknow, Patna and Tamil Nadu over illegal constructions and sought reports on the action taken to demolish or shut down unsafe buildings that pose a serious risk to public safety.

A bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan took note of the recent building collapse in Delhi's Saket and fire incidents in Malviya Nagar and Lucknow's Aliganj.

It directed the constitution of a special team comprising two senior professors from IIT Delhi and two draftsmen to conduct a time-bound ground survey of Saket, Malviya Nagar and Lajpat Nagar.

The officials concerned have also been directed to remain physically present before the court on the next date of hearing on August 4.

"We make it clear that there should be no slackness with regard to the committee giving an honest report. If any doubt is raised, we may send a special team from this Court to ensure the honesty of the report," the apex court said.

The bench also warned that accountability would be fixed if authorities failed to act.

"We indicate that if, on the next date, we find that no action has been taken, straightaway responsibility would be fixed upon the CEO of the said authority," it added.

Agreeing with the amicus curiae's submission that authorities were adopting a "face-saving approach" by arresting only builders after building collapses and fire incidents, while taking no action against officials responsible for failing to curb illegal constructions, the court directed the authorities to disclose in their reports the names of senior officials accountable for such failures.

In its May 20 order, the court had directed the authorities to take "immediate and effective measures", including sealing and demolition, against illegal and unauthorised constructions identified during surveys.

It had also directed them to disclose the action taken through affidavits personally affirmed by the heads of the authorities concerned.