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The Delhi High Court today directed the concerned authorities to treat as representation a plea seeking direction to the Delhi Government and North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) to remove all illegal and unauthorised encroachment from public parks situated in and around Jama Masjid. 

The Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh passed the directions while hearing a plea by on Mohd Arslan, a local resident of Jama Masjid who also sought directions to remove all shelter homes ("Rain Basera") built by Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) from Public Parks including Urdu Park situated around Meena Bazar Market, Jama Masjid, Delhi.

The petition through Advocates Mohammad Ali and Mutiur Rehman, submitted that there are a few public parks situated around Jama Masjid and also around Meena Bazaar including Urdu Park and Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) where shelter homes ("Rain Basera") have been built.

The petitioner has also raised a grievance against  some people who  with the help of the civic body are illegally operating parking and e-rickshaw charging facilities in the public parks situated around the Jama Masjid.

The petitioner has further stated that the residents of the area have no other park for walking/jogging or for any other recreational activities and the children residing in this area are forced to be locked inside their homes as there are no playgrounds around this area. 

It has further been submitted that “Residents of these areas are deprived of their fundamental rights to enjoy a clean and healthy environment. The present problem requires an urgent solution and the public, at large, should not suffer because of minimal action or inaction of government entities. The local ward authorities/department has shown no zeal or interest to solve this problem and the civic body is not bothered to ensure a clean and healthy environment especially in the Old Delhi area".

The petitioner informed the Court that he had  sent representations to the concerned authorities, however, till date, no reply has been received from any of them.

Case Title- Mohd Arslan vs GNCTD