Delhi High Court: A Division Bench of Vipin Sanghi and Rajnish Bhatnagar, JJ., while addressing a petition stated that,
mere paperwork and consultations would not solve the eminent threat that the citizens of NCT of Delhi faces due to heightened seismic activity and that it is only actual work on ground which would come to rescue of the citizens.
Respondent’s counsel submits that the action plan for making buildings in Delhi seismic compliant had been notified to the Court.
Respondent submitted that all the Municipal Corporations are conscious of the seismic activity in Delhi and that they were working out a plan to implement the action plan.
High Court directed the three Municipal Corporations of Delhi to file affidavits explaining as to what the Plan of implementation is, how it is proposed to be implement on an urgent basis.
Government of NCT of Delhi, Delhi Development Authority, New Delhi Municipal Council and Delhi Cantonment Board shall also file similar affidavits as stated above.
It goes without saying that mere paperwork and consultations would not solve the eminent threat that the citizens of NCT of Delhi faces due to heightened seismic activity and that it is only actual work on ground which would come to rescue of the citizens.
In view of the above, Court stated that it hopes the respondents are conscious of the above stated concern, and some real work on the ground is undertaken to save the citizens from a possible catastrophe.
Bench directed GNCTD to take steps to sensitize not only other Government functionaries but also the public at large in the above regard. GNCTD to file an affidavit wherein steps that has been taken by GNCTD in the above regard and what further steps it proposes.
Matter to be listed on 18the June, 2020. [Arpit Bhargava v. North Delhi Municipal Corporation, 2020 SCC OnLine Del 643 , decided on 09-06-2020]