SC orders arrest of persons undertaking illegal constructions at Chandni Chowk
It has further been ordered that no residential property would be converted to commercial property.;
The Supreme Court yesterday ordered arrests of persons indulging in illegal constructions in the Chandni Chowk area of Delhi. Court said that if anybody was found even putting a brick, they must be arrested.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi was hearing a petition which submitted that illegal constructions were being carried out in the area, allegedly in collusion with the civic authorities.
Court has thus ordered the Commissioner of Police to deploy a police team for patrolling in the area and ensure that all the demolition orders passed by the MCD, over which courts have not granted any stay, are meticulously complied with.
The bench also dealt with the case of an elderly woman residing on the ground floor of a residential property, wherein the second floor of the same property was illegally converted into commercial space by the builder. It pulled up the Municipal Corporation of Delhi for not taking action against the builder concerned.
In May court had directed the Commissioner of Delhi Police to deploy a team in Chandni Chowk to act against persons carrying out illegal construction despite its ban. This was after the court was informed that despite its order staying the construction of commercial complexes and demolition of residential buildings in Fatehpuri area of Chandni Chowk, the unauthorized construction was being carried out.
"It is reported that despite the categorical directions given by us stopping all unauthorized constructions where residential properties are being converted into commercial establishments, those directions are not being faithfully complied with and the individuals are still continuing with construction/alteration/modification in collusion with officials of the MCD. We, accordingly, direct the Commissioner of Police, Delhi to deploy a police team to inspect the sites and wherever it is found that unauthorized constructions are still being carried out despite the ban imposed by us, let lawful action be taken against them", court had ordered on May 23, 2025.
Case Title: S. JAITLEY AND ANR. vs. MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF DELHI AND ORS
Hearing Date: July 18, 2025
Bench: Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi