HC gives Faridabad MC 6 weeks to raze illegal constructions

Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, February 26

Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) is all set to demolish illegal constructions in the NIT area of the city, it is learnt.

The civic body has been allowed six weeks for compliance by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Expressing “displeasure” over the state of compliance of the court order dated November 12, 2008, the court of Justice Surinder Gupta ordered the Commissioner, MCF, to look into the allegations made by the petitioner in his legal notice marked annexure P-2 in the writ petition filed in 2008.

The order reads that “in case it is found that any structure out of those mentioned in the notice has been raised unauthorisedly, action be taken in accordance with the law for its removal. The needful shall be done by the Commissioner expeditiously, not later than six weeks from the date of the copy of this order is received.” It is added that the legal notice of the petitioner is to be looked into and if any encroachment is found, further action is to be taken by the respondent.

“It appears that the respondent has sidetracked by raising one plea or the other instead of going through the order dated November 11, 2008 and report its compliance,” says the order.

According to it, the Commissioner, who was present in the court, furnished unqualified apology for not considering legal notice and submitted that he would look into the same and pass a speaking order within six weeks.

The petitioner, KL Gera, had filed a contempt petition in 2012. The court had taken up the same on Monday. Gera, in his writ petition, had alleged that at least 50 illegal commercial units having more than 200 shops and commercial establishments had come up in the NIT area in an unauthorised manner and the civic body had failed to remove these despite complaints lodged with it.

On Monday, a day ahead of the hearing before the High Court, the MCF had sealed as many as nine units having more than 27 shops. As many as 29 other units were spared on basis of claims that they had either got CLU or had paid the fee. Yash Garg, Commissioner, MCF, said that while he was yet to receive the order copy, he said action would be taken for its compliance.

Order passed 11 years ago

• Expressing “displeasure” over the state of compliance of the court order dated November 12, 2008, the court of Justice Surinder Gupta ordered the Commissioner, MCF, to look into the allegations made by the petitioner in his legal notice marked annexure P-2 in the writ petition filed in 2008
• The petitioner, KL Gera, had filed a contempt petition in 2012