By IANS,
New Delhi : Court commissioners, appointed to monitor Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) demolition drive against illegal construction, Thursday contended before the Delhi High Court that their appointment was legal.
Counsels Kirti Uppal and Rakesh Khanna countered MCD’s argument that the court-appointed committee and the commissioners should be disbanded.
In July 2006, while hearing a petition seeking directions to the civic agencies to remove illegal encroachments for decongestion of the city, the bench had appointed nine court commissioners to personally visit their respective zones and monitor the demolition drive.
The lawyers submitted that the court was empowered to appoint commissioners and monitoring committee members for better implementation of the provisions of law.
“The direction of high court was not to substitute the statutory authority (MCD) officers but to observe that the MCD officers strictly comply with the court’s order,” the counsels submitted.
Following their submissions, the court sought the lawyers’ suggestion that if there can be a permanent mechanism to monitor the demolitions within the law.
The court will hear the matter further Monday.