delhi high court
– Photo : Amar Ujala
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The Delhi High Court pulled up the MCD, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Delhi Police in the wake of the incident in Ghazipur that led to the death of a woman and her son. The court warned that it will start suspending MCD officials if the municipal corporation fails to perform its duties.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said that the authorities have failed to cover or barricade the drains in the Ghazipur area. After talking to the MCD Deputy Commissioner responsible for the area, the bench remarked that it would ask the government to dissolve the corporation. It said that a case of criminal negligence should be registered against the municipal corporation officials.
MCD has become a relaxing club
The bench said, “MCD has become a cosy club where you go, have a cup of tea and come back. I can guarantee you that if this man (deputy commissioner present in the court) does not come to the office, it will not make any difference to the ground situation. I think this is a fit case where we will recommend to the government that MCD should be dissolved.”
Delhi Police and DDA should submit report
The bench said, is this the way things are going in Delhi? There is no date for the cabinet meeting, there is no date for the standing committee meeting. If the cabinet and standing committee meetings are not being held, how will the budget be approved? It is as if we are saying that the cases will be decided without our court sitting. The court finally ordered the MCD to clear the area and put up barricades so that the open drains become inaccessible. Delhi Police and DDA have also been ordered to file a status report in the matter.
This is a matter of police investigation
The bench said it would not decide on whether the area where the deaths occurred falls under the jurisdiction of the MCD or the DDA as it is a matter of police investigation. The bench was considering a petition filed by one Jhunnu Lal Shrivastava seeking action against DDA and MCD officials after a woman and her son fell into a drain and drowned. According to reports, a 22-year-old woman named Tanuja and her 3-year-old son Priyansh died after falling into a drain.
The bodies were found 150 meters below
The Delhi Police told the court that the victims fell into the drain due to waterlogging and their bodies were found about 150 metres downstream. The court also expressed its displeasure over the police investigation in the case and said that the police were only sending notices to municipal officials and no concrete action was taken to seize files or question the officials.
