The Delhi High Court on Friday warned that it would invoke its extraordinary powers to dissolve the Municipal Corporation of Delhi if the civic body failed to put an end to the marriages being illegally conducted in the capital's farmhouses.
The Court granted two weeks' time to the Corporation to file a reply on the complaint that the marriages continued to be conducted at the farmhouses despite its earlier orders.
A Division Bench of Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Rekha Sharma, dealing with the public interest litigation filed by Brashtachar Virodhi Sangathan, a voluntary organisation, told the MCD that it would invoke Section 490 of the Delhi Municipal Act to dissolve the body by issuing a direction to the Union government, if the marriages were not forthwith stopped.
The Bench also sought a reply from the Corporation on the contempt notice issued by the Court against a municipal commissioner for the continuing violation of its orders.
"Enough is enough. You tell your bosses that we will not take it anymore. And you know the consequences of invoking Section 490," the Bench observed.
Under Section 490 of the Delhi Municipal Act, the elected body of the MCD can be dissolved by the Union government if the corporation fails to act in accordance with the provisions of the legislation.
Once dissolved, the Centre can appoint a special officer to oversee the Corporation's functioning.
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