SC seeks guidelines on blacklisting corrupt realtors

New Delhi [India], July 18 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Union of India to come up with proper guidelines within two weeks to blacklist builders, contractors and architects who are found to have constructed buildings against the sanctioned plan.

The apex court further stated that the sealing and demolition of unauthorised constructions in the national capital will continue.

The court passed the verdict after the Centre said that it had not asked authorities in Delhi to stop the sealing drive against illegal constructions.

A division bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Madan Bhimrao Lokur and also comprising Justice Deepak Gupta, told the Centre that hereafter, owners of illegal or encroached constructions would be given only 48 hours show cause notice as to why the building should not be sealed or demolished.

The apex court was apprised today that Municipal Councillor, Mukesh Suryan, Chairman of Najafgarh wards committee, had allegedly prevented officers from carrying out sealing drives in the area, to which the top court sought his personal presence.

The two-judge bench also asked the Najafgarh authority to file an affidavit on the allegation that Deputy Commissioner Vishwendra Singh was transferred at the behest of Municipal Councillor Mukesh Suryan.

The concerned authority, however, submitted before the top court that it was a routine transfer.

In April this year, the Centre told the apex court that a special task force would be set up to oversee the enforcement of laws to deal with unauthorised construction and encroachments, and look into the safety of buildings that have been built legally.

The drive to seal commercial establishments flouting provisions of the 2021 Master Plan began on January 7 from Khan Market on the orders of a Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI