A Delhi High Court bench of acting chief justice Gita Mittal and justice C Hari Shankar, on November 24, 2017, said it was of the view that many of the grievances relating to illegal constructions, could be addressed by the authorities through a proper mechanism. It suggested putting on their websites, various details like the date of receipt of complaint, action taken on it, reasons for delay, non-implementation of orders passed thereof and details of new incumbent officers.
The bench issued the direction, while hearing a PIL alleging inaction by authorities, on complaints made about unauthorised and illegal construction over some drains. The petitioner also sought direction against the officials of the municipal corporations, for not taking action on the complaints.
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The court said prima facie, the petition appears to have substance, as it raised the grievance of encroachment and unauthorised construction and such complaints must be addressed on priority.
It asked the authorities, including the municipal bodies, to file their status report on the plea and listed the matter for March 16, 2018. The counsel for north MCD informed the court that they already have a similar software in place, after which the bench asked the corporation to take steps, for deciding the format for placing the data on the website.
