Delhi HC issues contempt notice against municipal commissioner

The Delhi High Court today issued a contempt notice to the MCD commissioner for his alleged failure to comply with its previous order for removal of encroachments by slum dwellers and their relocation in\ Sultanpuri area.

"Issue a show-cause notice to commissioner MCD as to why contempt proceeding should not be initiated against him...," said a Division Bench of justice Vikramjeet Sen and justice Manmohan Singh in an order and sought an explanation by March 15.

The Bench's order came while hearing a matter relating to removal of illegal encroachments in the city after MCD filed an application and sought further extension of two years time for relocation the slum dwellers.

Earlier, on August 3 last year MCD had sought six weeks time to comply with the court's order to ensure the removal of encroachments by slum dwellers in D and E blocks at Sultanpuri area.

Seeking two years time to ensure removal of the slums, MCD said in the application that the department has to relocate the slum dwellers as per the policy of Delhi government in the Master Plan 2021 and the LG has directed not to remove them till  March 15.

Meanwhile, he has directed the Slum and Jhuggi Jhonpri department to conduct a detailed survey of the slum cluster and also sought data about their socio-economic condition as they have been settled there for past several years.

The LG also directed setting up Tehbazari and Market there before their relocation so that these people would earn their livelihood, the MCD added.

"...LG  has directed that keeping in view the human angle and the sufferings of people no demolition work should be undertaken at least till March 15 and immediate demolition in this case would result in great human problems," said MCD in the application.