HC asks cops, SDMC to remove guard cabins, ramps from Vasant Vihar footpaths

In its order, dated March 3, 2022, a bench headed by justice Najmi Waziri pulled up the south corporation and the police, stating that despite having the power to remove these encroachments, no action had been taken by them.

A petition filed before the Delhi high court, seeking to de-concretise nearly 5,000 trees in Vasant Vihar, has brought to the attention of the court a different problem — that of encroachments on footpaths in the form of concrete ramps and security guard cabins.

The court has directed the Delhi Police and the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to remove all Illegal encroachments from public footpaths in the Vasant Vihar area.

Taking cognisance of these, the court has directed the Delhi Police and the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to remove all Illegal encroachments from public footpaths in the Vasant Vihar area.

In its order, dated March 3, 2022, a bench headed by justice Najmi Waziri pulled up the south corporation and the police, stating that despite having the power to remove these encroachments, no action had been taken by them.

According to the submissions made by the south corporation and the Public Works Department (PWD), as part of the ”Bhavreen Kandhari vs Gyanesh Bharti and Ors” case, nearly 400 guard cabins were found built on the pavement space outside houses in the area. Notices have been issued to those who encroached upon the public path and constructed concrete ramps and inclines, among others.

“The court noticed the encroachments on public footpaths in photographs filed and shown to the court and directed the rectification of the illegality. The corporation had issued about 460 notices to persons who had encroached upon the public path and constructed concrete ramps to their residences. The said construction, in the first place, is illegal; the officer(s) under whose charge the said ramps came about would have to answer,” said the high court in its order, adding that of the 400 guard cabins identified, only one had been removed by the police so far.

“Surely, the Delhi Police is expected to exercise its jurisdiction under sections 82 to 86 of the Delhi Police Act, 1978, along with other provisions of law and remove all obstacles from a right of way. The corporation too shall exercise its jurisdiction to ensure that no impediment or structure is kept on the footpaths or on the road, by any person,” said the court, asking both the agencies to act swiftly on its order.