HC directs action against illegal restaurants in Majnu ka Tila

New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked authorities to ensure that cafes, bars and restaurants in Majnu ka Tila area adhere to the sanctioned building plans and have fire safety clearances.HC allowed Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Special Task Force (STF) dealing with the removal of unauthorised constructions to treat a PIL before the court as a complaint and take action against outlets or commercial establishments operating without safety measures and building plans.
A bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela disposed of a petition which contended that various unauthorised restaurants are operating in multi-storey buildings in Majnu ka Tila, situated on the banks of the Yamuna, and that they are being used for commercial purposes."Just ensure they are in order, half the students in Delhi University go there. Most of these are run by Tibetans, they are just surviving. Govt hasn't done much for them, for the past 40-50 years, they are surviving there," the bench orally observed.Noting that a suo motu complaint has already been registered by DDA, HC asked the authorities to take "appropriate action which may be warranted under law after reviewing the grievances of the petitioner". It also directed that the decision and action, as may be warranted in the complaint filed by DDA, be taken with expedition, preferably within three months.The plea filed in HC sought to direct Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Delhi Fire Services (DFS) to enforce the National Building Code and fire safety measures to ensure action required may be taken. It claimed that several structures in Majnu ka Tila and New Aruna Nagar rise to "7-8 floors, with illegal basements, rooftops and recreational facilities". It said the "structural and operational conditions of these buildings create an immediate and life-threatening hazard". It referred to the recent tragic nightclub fire in Goa, saying it serves as a "stark warning of what could occur in similar circumstances".

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