New Delhi: The North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) resumed its demolition drive in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri despite the Supreme Court’s order to put it on halt. The NDMC mayor said they are yet to receive the court order’s hard copy, which may take a few hours, so they would continue with the demolition.
We will follow the SC order & take action accordingly, says Raja Iqbal Singh the Mayor of North Delhi Municipal Corporation news agency ANI reported, after the Supreme Court ordered a status-quo on the demolition drive being conducted by the civic body in violence-hit Jahangirpuri.
Earlier, a petition was been filed in the Supreme Court to stop demolition in Jahangirpuri. Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave said, “Completely unauthorised unconstitutional demolition ordered in Jahangirpuri area.”
“Something serious requires your immediate intervention. This is about a completely unconstitutional and illegal demolition which has been ordered in Jahangirpuri area, where riots took place last week. No notice has been served. There is a provision for appeal under the Municiapl Corporation Act. We have filed a provisional application(before SC). It was supposed to start at 2PM but they started the demolition today morning at 9 AM knowing that we will mention”, Dave submitted.
“Maintain status quo. List before appropriate bench tomorrow”, the CJI ordered.
The court’s order came even as nine bulldozers had rolled into the area and started razing structures as per orders of the BJP-controlled North Delhi Municipal Corporation amid heavy police presence to prevent any law and order situation.
Raja Iqbal Singh, mayor of North Delhi Municipal Corporation, has termed it a “routine exercise”, reported news agency PTI. However, the timing of the drive, especially since it comes right after the BJP’s chief letter, has prompted questions about the political motives behind the drive.
According to PTI, the civic authority wanted at least 400 police officers for the two-day anti-encroachment action that began today.
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