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Yes, we are corrupt: MCD tells high court

In a candid admission of ground realities, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi told the high court on Monday that it is unable to check corruption among its officials.

When the division bench of justice Anil Dev Singh and justice M K Sharma asked why no action is initiated against officials responsible for unauthorised constructions, MCD counsel Raman Duggal said, "If we take action against junior engineers, there will be none left. The officials take money and that is a ground reality." He, however, added that there are some honest officers as well in the MCD.

The court noted that despite assurances by the MCD, the New Delhi Municipal Council and the Delhi Development Authority, no action has been taken against officials responsible for illegal constructions in the capital city.

The judges said they would summon chief secretary of the Delhi government, commissioner of the MCD, chairman of the NDMC, chief engineer of the Public Works Department and the police commissioner to get their opinion on the matter.

The court asked advocate A S Chandhiok, who is also president of the Delhi High Court Bar Association, to co-ordinate with all civic bodies, concerned local residents and come up with comprehensive suggestions for long-term solutions within two weeks.

The court was hearing a bunch of public interest litigations seeking directions to the civic bodies for initiating concrete action against the occupants of unauthorised houses and slum dwellers. The case will now come up for hearing on October 18.

On September 15, the court had asked the DDA and the MCD to form a co-ordination committee for examining all houses, which have violated either the sanctioned plan or the zonal development plan or the master plan.

The judges had given the direction to DDA vice-chairman P K Ghosh and MCD commissioner S P Aggarwal who appeared in person before the court. The court said the DDA and the MCD must maintain a constant vigilance for violations of rules and action should be taken as per law.

The judges also issued notice to the Delhi Vidyut Board and called for its response on the possibility of snapping electricity connection to the commercial units operating from residential areas.

UNI

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