Dashmeet Singh Anand v. Govt. Of NCT Of Delhi And ANR.
$~6 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 13247/2019 DASHMEET SINGH ANAND .....Petitioner Through:
Mr. Saurabh Kansal, Mr. Raghav Vij, Mr. Manish Kumar, Mr. Suraj Jha, Advocates.
Mr. Hemant Singh, Mr. Sushant Sajan, Advs.
versus GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI AND ANR.
.....Respondent Through:
Mr. Naveen Kumar Raheja, Adv for R-3.
Mr. Tushar Sannu, Adv for GNCTD, with Mr. Sahaj Karan Singh, Adv.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PURUSHAINDRA KUMAR KAURAV
O R D E R
% 30.08.2024 1.
The instant writ petition seeks for removal of the alleged illegal encroachment in the shape of Jhuggies/Jhopdi in the area of Mansarovar Garden, primarily in and around shopping complex 2-D Mansarovar Garden, New Delhi.
2.
Though the respondents have placed their status report/counter affidavit there does not seem to be any concrete step taken by the said respondent for removal of the alleged encroachment. 1.
The Court takes note of an order passed today in W.P. (C) 12033/2024 titled as Pravin Singhal v. Municipal Corporation of Delhi The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
and Ors., wherein, the Court has examined the scope, role and functions of STF constituted by DDA vide notification dated 08.03.2019 and has held as under:- "6. It is discernible from the aforesaid notification that STF has been constituted with an aim of comprehensively addressing the issue of illegal construction and encroachment, including on public land, parking spaces, roads, pavements, etc., and to oversee the enforcement of provisions of MPD-21 and the Unified Building Bye Laws for Delhi. The composition of STF would indicate that the same consists of various Officers from different Departments, including municipal, civic, revenue and law enforcement agencies. The Vice Chairman of DDA is the Chairman of STF and the Commissioner (Planning) of DDA appears to be its Member Secretary.
7. The said notification further stipulates that STF shall meet at least once every month. Additionally, the monthly report of STF is required to be sent to the Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, GoI, and the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, GoI, who are also required to review the progress achieved quarterly and assess future plans. In essence, STF has been vested with comprehensive powers to regulate construction activities and to act decisively against the erring builders, officials, encroachers, violators of building norms etc.
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14. In LPA 245/2019 titled as Sneh Lata & Anr. v. North Delhi Municipal Corporation & Anr., the Division Bench of this Court, while highlighting the composition and functioning of STF, has held that STF is a specialised agency which offers an alternate efficacious remedy to the litigants aggrieved by the unauthorised construction. The relevant paragraphs of the said decision are reproduced as under:- "The Special Task Force comprises 15 members from various municipal, civic, revenue and law enforcement agencies of Delhi; and even has its own dedicated website and mobile application to facilitate making of complaints. The Special Task Force is therefore a specially constituted agency to address grievances relating inter-alia to unauthorised construction; and an aggrieved person may avail the alternate, efficacious remedy before the Special Task Force.
In view of the setting-up of the Special Task Force under directions of the Supreme Court even the respondent The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
No.2 has a forum to agitate any grievance that may remain. It is therefore not appropriate for our court to exercise its appellate jurisdiction in the matter.
Accordingly, the appellants are free to avail their statutory remedies before the ATMCD in respect of action initiated by the corporation by issuing notices under Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957. On the other hand respondent No.2 may, if aggrieved, approach the alternate forum of the Special Task Force to seek amelioration of any grievances or invoke any other remedy available under law. Accordingly, parties may resort to the appropriate remedy, as they may be advised."
15. A similar view has been taken by the Division Bench of this Court in a Public Interest Litigation being W.P. (C) 8104/2022 titled as Himanshu v. East Delhi Municipal Corporation & Anr., in W.P. (C) 4649/2017 titled as Fazruddin v. DDA & Ors., in W.P. (C) 5988/2019 titled as Jaladhar Das v. North Delhi Municipal Corporation & Ors. and in W.P. (C) 11873/2023 titled as RWA Sunlight Colony v. GNCTD & Ors."
3.
Looking at the nature of relief prayed in the instant writ petition and the controversy involved herein, the Court finds that if the petitioner approaches the STF, the same would look into the grievance and take necessary steps in accordance with law.
4.
Needless to state that since the instant writ petition has remained pending for quite a long time, an expeditious action on behalf of the STF would be appreciated.
5.
Leaving all contentions open at this stage, the instant petition stands disposed of alongwith all pending applications. PURUSHAINDRA KUMAR KAURAV, J AUGUST 30, 2024/KG The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.