NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Madan Lal and city government on a plea filed by his neighbour against the alleged illegal construction by the legislator at his house.
Justice Mukta Gupta also issued notice to South Delhi Municipal Corporation along with Delhi government and Madan Lal, who represents Kotla Mubarakpur constituency.
The plea filed by Lal's neighbour Ravinder Kumar alleged that the legislator got demolished the old structure of his house in Bapu Park, Kotla Mubarakpur in February and while doing so, did not adopt any safety measures.
Adovcate Gaurav Gupta appearing for Kumar told the court that the MLA made no compliance of any bye-laws or regulations and has been raising illegal construction.
During the hearing, the court also slammed the SDMC when it said that show cause notice has been issued to Lal and he has to file response within eight weeks.
"There is unauthorised construction going on and you will wait for eight weeks... by the time construction will be raised and then you will demolish it. Take action now," said the court.
The plea said that negligence in demolition of house and illegal construction by the legislator was not only hazardous to the safety of the public and the structures of adjoining houses, but it also created nuisance and pollution in the area.
The house of Kumar is one of the adjoining houses behind Lal's house. Every time Kumar or any other member of the locality went to confront the MLA about the danger to their life and property due to such illegal construction, he always used to threaten and shove them away as he was aware of his nexus with the authorities and his influence in the area and knows that no action would be taken against him so easily, said the plea.
Advocate Gupta said that being aggrieved by the illegal and high-handed attitude of Lal, the neighbours approached the police and SDMC against his misconduct, but failed to get any relief as both were reluctant to take any action against the MLA, who is a very influential person.
All this while, the MLA continued his illegal construction unabated on the property, without even getting the plan sanctioned from SDMC, alleged the plea, adding that the construction being carried out is "completely illegal and is clearly against the building bye laws framed under Delhi Municipal Corporation Act".
"Kotla Mubarakpur is a very thickly-populated area and it cannot bear the burden of frequent, unauthorized and excessive building constructions. Therefore, it is most essential that if construction is carried out in the area, the same should be done by strictly observing the building byelaws. Any such illegal construction in a highly populated area can severely endanger human life and property," the plea added.