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Informist, Wednesday, Jul 31, 2024

 

--HC: Major disconnect in Delhi's infrastructure, present day needs 

--CONTEXT:Pleas seek probe into deaths at civil svcs coaching centre

--HC pulls up police for "strange" probe in civil svc aspirants' death 

--HC: Police taking action against passerby, not civic body officials

--HC: Entire administrative infra of Delhi needs to be re-examined 

--HC moots transfer of coaching centre deaths probe to central agency 

--HC seeks police officials presence in court in coaching centre case 

--HC seeks Delhi Municipal Corporation commissioner presence on Fri

 

NEW DELHI – The Delhi High Court today came down heavily on the officials of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Delhi Police while hearing multiple pleas seeking a probe into the deaths of three civil service aspirants in the city's Old Rajinder Nagar area last week. The high court also pulled up the Delhi government for its freebie policies, which leaves no money to upgrade the city's infrastructure.

 

The Bench led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan said there was a major disconnect between the infrastructure of Delhi and the present day needs. "You (Delhi government) are permitting multi-storey buildings, but there is no proper drain. You have mixed sewage with storm water drains, there is reverse flow," said the Bench, which also comprises Justice Tushar Rao Gadela.

 

"Your civic authorities are bankrupt. If you don't have money to pay salaries, how will you upgrade infrastructure? You want freebie culture. You're not collecting any money, so you're not spending any money," the Bench said.

 

The high court was hearing multiple petitions seeking the constitution of a high-level committee to probe into the deaths of three civil services aspirants who died in a flooded basement at a coaching centre in Delhi on Saturday. The petitioners sought district-level committees to find out the illegal commercial constructions in each district of Delhi. Further, the petitioners have asked for a probe panel to compile a report on the coaching institutes which were running illegally. 

 

The court also recalled that when it asked the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to carry out projects in a previous hearing, they had said that any project above 50 mln rupees will have to be approved by the Standing Committee, but there is no such committee. "Yesterday (On Tuesday), one plan they said has to go to Cabinet. What's the next date of the cabinet meeting, nobody knows!" the court remarked. It questioned the Municipal Corporation of Delhi about how it plans to run the city if it can't sanction anything above 50 mln rupees. 

 

The high court also pulled up the police investigating officer for conducting a "strange probe" into the deaths. "Every passerby you're taking action against, but not against MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) officials," the court said. The police had arrested a businessman who drove his car on the water-logged road in front of the coaching centre. This businessman was accused of forcing a wave of water that breached the entrance and eventually led to flooding in the centre's basement. 

 

On the Delhi government counsel's statement that some junior officers from the civic body were suspended, the court asked about the senior officers who should have supervised them. "At some point, senior officers have to visit (the site) and accept. They are not leaving their AC (air-conditioned) offices," the Bench said.

 

Acting Chief Justice Manmohan also questioned the Delhi government on the planning of the city. "What is this planning? One day you are complaining of drought and the next day there is flood?" 

 

Further, the court questioned the government's "freebie culture". "You have to decide on this freebie culture. There is a population of 3.3 crore (33 mln) people in this city whereas it was planned for 6-7 lakh (600,000-700,000) people. How do you plan to accommodate so many people without upgrading infrastructure?" asked the Acting Chief Justice.

 

The high court said if they ask the Municipal Corporation of Delhi officials to plan out drains, they will not be able to do it as most of them don't know where the drains are. "Everything is mixed up. Absolutely chaotic!" said Acting Chief Justice Manmohan. "...We have to find out where the jurisdiction of one authority ends and the responsibility of another authority begins." 

 

"There's so much blame game. Entire administrative infrastructure of Delhi needs to be re-examined," it added.

 

The court asked the investigating officer, deputy commissioner of the Delhi Police, and the commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to be present in court at the next hearing on Friday. It said if the investigation is not done properly, the court will transfer the probe to some central agency. "We will pass orders, one to fix responsibility in this case. This is infrastructural breakdown. And this should go to some statutory mechanism," the Bench said.

 

The Bench said senior officials of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi need to step outside their offices. Only then will there be a change. It asked the civic authority to submit an affidavit on the next date of hearing on the action they have taken regarding the issues.  End

 

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Tanima Banerjee

 

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