SC summons officials of Delhi civic bodies on sealing issue
New Delhi, July 11: The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought presence of Deputy Commissioners of Delhi's South, West and Central zones for not complying with its order to seal unauthorised constructions.
A bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta also summoned chairman of Special Task Force (STF), constituted to monitor issues relating to unauthorised constructions in Delhi, to appear before it on July 18.
The monitoring committee - mandated to identify and seal unauthorised structures in the national capital - alleged non cooperation by the civic agencies in a report filed before the bench.
The bench while perusing the report, took into note a media report submitted by the committee, as per which Union Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had rapped the officials for carrying out the drive without using "common sense".
"You (government) have no intention to work, which even the monitoring committee has informed. Your minister said that the monitoring committee had no common sense in sealing the properties. Monitoring committee was constituted by us, that means the court has no sense as per you," said the bench.
"We do not have common sense. We do not know how to work. Please ask him where should we get common sense. Is it available in the market? Ask him so that we can get some common sense also," Justice Lokur told Additional Solicitor General A.N.S. Nadkarni, who was appearing for the Centre.
"We are being told that we lack common sense. If something is there in the newspapers, you say it is false. That is why we do not have common sense.
"See how your department is making hurdles in the working of the committee," said the anguished bench.
The report said that pubs and dancing clubs are working in illegal properties and the SDMC has not taken any action, added the bench.
The court was earlier told that the municipal bodies was refusing to carry out the directions of the committee on the grounds that the amendments to the Master Plan-2021 were yet to be finalised.
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Adequate LPG stock in Chhattisgarh, no need to panic, says CM Sai
Raipur (PTI): Amid reports of shortage of commercial LPG cylinder in several parts of the country due to the US-Israel-Iran conflict, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday assured people that they need not worry about the availability of cooking gas in the state.
He asserted that adequate stock of LPG as well as petrol and diesel was available in the state.
Sai said in a statement that authorities have been directed to regularly monitor stock at gas agencies and keep a close watch on the supply chain. Necessary instructions were issued to officials in all districts to ensure a smooth supply of LPG.
The chief minister instructed officials to take strict action if any complaint of black marketing or hoarding of LPG cylinders is received.
Sai urged state residents not to pay attention to rumours and to book cooking gas cylinders as per their actual requirement.
The government was fully alert to ensure the availability of essential commodities to citizens, he emphasised.
Meanwhile, the Chhattisgarh Hotel and Restaurant Association has issued an advisory to hotels, restaurants, caterers and other food businesses across the state, urging them to maintain calm and avoid panic buying.
In the advisory, Taranjeet Singh Hora, president of the association, asked members to maintain coordination and immediately inform it about any major disruption in LPG supply.
He cautioned businesses against hoarding cylinders, saying such practices could worsen the situation for the entire hospitality sector.
The association advised hotels and restaurants to prioritise essential kitchen operations, core menu items and already committed banquet events.
Use electric cooking equipment wherever possible for emergency and staff kitchens such as induction cooktops, electric hot plates, electric rice cookers and kettles, the advisory stated.
