During the hearing, the judge said that if the top officials of MCD go to the field themselves, then some changes will happen. Did any MCD official go to jail, just caught a car driver passing by, will you decide responsibility like this?
The whole country is saddened by the death of three students in the Delhi coaching center accident. Now the petition filed in this case is being heard in the Delhi High Court. In the petition filed in the court, a demand has been made to form a high-level committee to investigate this matter. The court said that you are taking action against every passerby, but you are not taking any action against MCD officials. The government lawyer told that some municipal corporation officials have been dismissed due to their negligence. On this the court said that you have dismissed the junior officials, but what about the senior officials who should have monitored?
Know what all was debated in Delhi High Court
Lawyer– We are talking about many incidents that happened in Delhi in the last few years, in which many people have lost their lives due to illegal construction or disregard of rules. Lawyer said- It seems that we are living in a jungle. Rules say that MCD and other departments should take action as soon as illegal construction or disregard of safety rules comes to light. Do they not see any irregularities anywhere? A student complained about coaching institutes running in Rajendra Nagar basement. Reminders were also sent twice, but no action was taken on the complaint.
Another lawyer– A student died due to electric shock a few days ago. Negligence is happening continuously. Everyone is making money through corruption. MCD is deliberately ignoring safety rules. There should be a high-level investigation of the matter. It should also be seen what action was taken on the complaint? Was any officer appointed to investigate the complaint? The court should also form a district level committee to investigate illegal construction in every district of Delhi. A committee should be formed under the chairmanship of a retired judge of the High Court. It should be expanded to every district of Delhi.
Delhi Government’s lawyer– Rules have been made. Efforts are made to follow them. Coaching is allowed only on the basis of the building. Inspection is done for fire safety. We are continuously taking action against coaching institutes. Notice was given to 75. 35 were closed, 25 were sealed. Some shifted to other places.
Lawyer– Illegal PGs are running. 50-60 students are living in one building. MCD people are appointed for every area. It is an open fact that during construction, recovery is done for every lintel.
Delhi Government– This is everyone’s shared responsibility. Such incidents are sad.
Judge– The problem is that you relaxed the building bylaws without developing the infrastructure of facilities. Many floors are constructed, but the facilities that the government has to provide are not being provided.
Petitioner– After the incident, a pretense of action is being made. Nothing was done before.
Delhi Government– Many investigation committees have been formed. More information will be obtained from their reports. Judge- MCD does not have money to pay salaries to employees. What facilities will it provide to people. The government has promoted the politics of freebies. It is claimed that people are not charged money and every facility is provided, but are these the facilities that are being provided?
Judge- This is a 100-year-old infrastructure, which is being allowed to be built without any development.
Judge- What investigation is the police doing? Who has been caught till now? Are illegal constructions done without the knowledge of the police, are other activities going on? Everyone is trying to pass the buck.
Judge- Is the police investigating the role of MCD officials? How did so much water accumulate there?
Lawyer– 5 floors are being built. After that, a separate flat is being built on the roof which is not visible from below.
Lawyer– If you lay a brick on your house, MCD people will come immediately, but their purpose of coming is to collect money. They have no interest in stopping illegal construction.
Judge– Even people passing by were caught, but do the senior officials of MCD have no role to play? Only a few junior people were suspended, that’s all. Senior officials are not even coming out of their AC rooms.
Judge– The government does not know anything. It has no plans. One day they complain of drought, the next day there is flood.
Judge (Acting Chief Justice Manmohan)– The government should first develop facilities, then give permission for construction. Nothing like this is happening here. Only unaccounted construction is going on. Building bylaws have been relaxed.
Judge– You need to rethink about your free schemes. In a city built for 6-7 lakh people, there are more than 3 crore people. There is no development of infrastructure.
Lawyer– A whole market has come up in place of drainage. The government and MCD know this, but are not even talking about it.
Judge– Markets have come up on top of the drain system. If the drain is broken, it cannot be repaired. Everything has been made so complicated that the MCD itself does not know how to fix it. When water comes, it does not wait.
Lawyer– The court has given many orders earlier also. They are not being followed.
Delhi Police’s lawyer– I will talk to my investigating officer and file a report.
Judge– Delhi has MCD, Jal Board, PWD.. It is not known whose responsibility is what. Perhaps we will have to ask the Union Home Ministry to consider how Delhi will run.
Judge– If the police does not do a proper investigation, then we will hand over the case to the CBI.
Judge– Someone has to take responsibility. We instruct the commissioner to go to that area himself.
Judge– Whatever encroachment is there on the drain system should be removed.
Delhi Police should file a report tomorrow. The MCD commissioner should also be present personally. The investigating officer of the police and the DCP should also come to the court.
Judge– It should be ensured that such incidents do not happen again. The hearing will be held on Friday at 2.30 pm.
Judge– How was this basement built? Which engineer gave permission for it? What arrangements were made to drain out the water from them? Will all these people who are responsible be spared? Who will investigate this? Has any MCD official gone to jail? They just caught a person driving a car passing by. This is how responsibility is being decided.
Judge– If the top officials of MCD go to the field themselves, then there will be some change. Has any MCD official gone to jail? They just caught a person driving a car passing by. Will responsibility be decided like this?
