SC stops construction in illegal Delhi colonies

New Delhi April 24 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Tuesday halted all construction in 1 797 unauthorised colonies in the national capital.

A bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta asked the Centre to set up a Special Task Force for removing encroachments on public land and roads in Delhi.

The bench also refused to vacate its stay on proposed amendments to the city s masterplan. The Development Authority had (DDA) appealed the court to vacate the stay.

"On the one hand you have authorised colonies which follow rules and by-laws. On the other hand you have unauthorised colonies which are not following rules and by-laws... Unauthorised colonies can t be placed in a better position than authorised colonies.

"We direct that construction should stop in unauthorised colonies till they follow by-laws " the bench said

The order came after taking into account the submissions of senior advocate Ranjit Kumar who was assisting the court as amicus curiae that by-laws do not apply to the illegal colonies and the construction was rampant there.

--IANS
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