Delhi HC dismisses plea against construction of ITL Twin Tower, slaps Rs 25,000 fine on petitioner

Delhi HC dismissed plea against the construction of ITL Twin Tower and slapped a fine of Rs.25,000 fine on the petitioner. The HC noted that the petition does not seem to be PIL. The petition seeks to stay constructing two more floors in the old mall building. It argued that the mall owner is apathetic to the servants who are frontline workers of COVID-19.

New Delhi: Dismissing a plea challenging the construction of ITL Twin Tower in Pitampura's Netaji Subhash Palace area, the Delhi High Court on Thursday slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 against the petitioner for filing a frivolous petition by way of a PIL.

A division bench of Chief Justice, DN Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan refused to entertain the petition and asked the petitioner to deposit the fine amount to Delhi Legal Service Authority (DLSA). The High Court noted that the petition does not seem to be Public Interest Litigation (PIL).

The bench was hearing a plea seeking action against the concerned authorities and to issue directions to demolish the illegal construction and restore the ITL Twin Tower to its original structure. The plea also sought to stop the work as it pauses danger to the residents and passersby.

In the PIL, the petitioner prayed that respondents be held accountable for all violations of constitutional and legislative guarantees. They argued that the construction denied the poverty-stricken slum dwellers their right to a healthy environment and no illegal construction. The area is visited by people regularly and an independent inquiry is ordered to look into the violations, demanded the petitioners.

The petition alleged that when the country is facing the COVID-19 pandemic, the owner of ITL Twin Tower is taking undue advantage of the situation, misleading the government.

"The owner of the above-said mall is constructing two more floors in the building. The construction is done by virtue of taking advantage of COVID-19 pandemic as he is very well aware of the fact that all the departments and servants are busy serving the nation in COVID-19 prevention", the plea said.

In addition, the building is a 30 years old structure and therefore inquiry may be conducted kindly on behest of the re-construction after 30 years without any approval.

(ANI Report)