Delhi HC unhappy over unhealthy pattern of authorities not filing reports in time
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi High Court has expressed displeasure over an "unhealthy pattern" of government authorities, state departments and corporations not filing replies and status reports on petitions in time and warned them of imposing costs if time schedule for pleadings is not adhered to.
The high court observed that usually all the governmental authorities, despite specific directions, are unable to file affidavits within the specified time schedule and choose to do so just one or two days before the date of hearing.
"The court is constrained to observe that there is an unhealthy pattern of governmental authorities, state departments and corporations not filing the counter affidavits and status reports as per the timelines prescribed by the court...
"It is made clear that costs would be liable to be imposed if the time schedule for pleadings fixed by the court is not adhered to," Justice Prathiba M Singh said.
The court was hearing a petition by the Wazirpur Bartan Nirmata Sangh stating that despite directions, innumerable encroachments have come up in the Wazirpur area all over again.
In October 2003, a division bench of the high court had taken cognizance of the encroachments existing in the Wazirpur area and had passed directions for removal of all illegal structures and encroachments on the road.
Justice Singh, in an order passed on January 30, said in the petition, neither the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) nor the Station House Officer (SHO) concerned has filed their affidavits.
The court said both the affidavits were handed over to it during the hearing and were stated to be filed on January 26 and 28 respectively.
After perusing MCD's affidavit and photographs, the court noted that some demolition action has been taken by the authorities and encroachments have been removed.
The MCD's stand was that after the removal of encroachments, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (North West) has been issued a letter to ensure that no further encroachment or illegal construction takes place and a strict watch is kept.
The petitioner's counsel said debris has not been removed from the area and even fresh construction has taken place and all the encroachments have also not been removed.
The high court said the August 2022 order was very clear that the MCD and local police are placed under collective duty and obligation to ensure that the public roads are made clear of encroachment and illegal structures.
"It is usually seen that even if the demolition or encroachment removal takes place, the local police does not thereafter, ensure that no fresh encroachments are made. Moreover, the 'malba' (debris) in the area is left lying as it is which inconveniences the public. Whenever unauthorised construction and encroachments are removed, cleaning up of the said area is an obligation of the MCD, which they have to undertake without fail," it said.
It further said the SHO of the area concerned would also be responsible to ensure that no further unauthorised construction is made out after encroachments are removed.
The court directed certain officers of MCD, police and representatives of the petitioner association to do a joint inspection of the area and file a status report.
"This shall be the last and final opportunity to the Assistant Commissioner, Keshav Puram Zone, MCD, as also to the concerned SHO to ensure that there are no more encroachments in the area failing which the action would be liable to be taken against these officials personally," it said and listed the matter for further hearing on April 10.
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Putin meets Iran's FM Araghchi, says Russia ready to do its best to help bring peace to West Asia
Moscow (PTI): Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday met Russian President Vladimir Putin, who hailed the Iranian people for fighting bravely and heroically for their sovereignty and said Moscow is ready to do its best to help bring peace to West Asia as soon as possible.
Araghchi, who held talks with Omani and Pakistani leadership before arriving in Russia, met Putin in St. Petersburg and thanked him for supporting Iran, state-owned TASS news agency reported.
"Russia is ready to do everything in its power to ensure that peace in the Middle East is achieved as soon as possible," Putin said during his meeting with Araghchi, which was also attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Revealing that he received a message from Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei last week, Putin asked Araghchi to convey his "gratitude for this message and best wishes for his health and well-being."
He praised the Iranian people for fighting "bravely and heroically" for their sovereignty, Iran's state-run PRESS TV reported.
"We really hope that, based on the courage and desire for independence, the Iranian people, under the guidance of the new leader, will weather this difficult period of trials and peace will come,” Putin said.
He also stressed that Russia “intends to maintain” its strategic relations with Iran.
Araghchi said that the world witnessed Iran’s strength in countering the US during the recent war, and that the Islamic Republic is a "stable and powerful establishment."
"With their courage, the Iranian people succeeded in resisting the US aggression and will be able to endure it,” he said.
He said that it became clear that Iran has “great friends and allies” like Russia, and conveyed “warmest greetings” from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian to the Russian leader.
Araghchi said relations between Moscow and Tehran represent a “strategic partnership at the highest level” and will continue to develop "regardless of circumstances."
"We are grateful to you for the solid and strong positions in support of the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said.
Foreign Minister Lavrov said that the talks between President Putin and the Iranian Foreign Minister were "useful and constructive."
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov later said that Russia is "ready to provide any good offices, any mediation services that are acceptable to the parties."
"We will be ready to do everything so that ultimately peace ensues, guaranteed peace, and that there is no return to hostilities," Peskov was quoted as saying by TASS.
He was asked how Moscow can assist in future negotiations on the Iranian settlement.
Araghchi arrived in Russia after his whirlwind trip to Islamabad, which, according to him, was “very productive” and involved “good consultations" with Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, amid uncertainty over the second round of peace talks to resolve the war in West Asia.
"We held good consultations with our friends in Pakistan. The trip was successful. We assessed the outcome of our recent (meetings) and discussed in what direction and under what conditions talks can move on,” Araghchi said in a video posted on his Telegram channel upon his arrival in St Petersburg.
Referring to the second round of talks between the US and Iran to resolve the conflict in West Asia, Araghchi said: "Developments have taken place in the negotiations."
"Despite some progress in earlier rounds, the talks failed to reach their objectives due to the Americans' approach, the excessive demands they made, and the wrong approaches they adopted. Therefore, it was necessary to consult with our friends in Pakistan to review the latest situation,” Iran's official news agency IRNA quoted him as saying.
He said that the trip to Pakistan was a good opportunity to review developments related to the US-Israeli war against Iran, expressing confidence that “these consultations and coordination between the two countries will be highly significant.”
Araghchi arrived at St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport early Monday, where he was welcomed by Russian officials and Iran’s ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, the report said.
The first round of peace talks between Iran and the US, held on April 11 and 12, failed to bring the desired result for the parties to the conflict.
The Iranian minister arrived in Islamabad for the second time on Sunday after a short visit to Oman, where he held talks with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said on security in the Strait of Hormuz and diplomatic efforts to end the Iran-US conflict.
After Araghchi left Pakistan for Oman on Saturday, President Donald Trump announced that US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would no longer be going to Islamabad for talks with Iran, contending that Washington held all the cards on the matter.
Trump on Sunday reiterated that the US and Iranian officials can talk by phone for a peace solution to the conflict.
On Tuesday, Trump extended the two-week ceasefire with Iran indefinitely to give Tehran more time to prepare a unified proposal to end the war, just hours before the truce was set to expire.
The war began when the US and Israel jointly attacked Iran on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top commanders. The retaliation by the Islamic Republic extended the war to the entire Gulf region.
