Displeased over the authorities’ delay in converting from residential to institutional 2.74 acres of land allotted to it three years ago, the Delhi High Court Monday gave the urban development ministry two days to issue a notification.
Expressing its displeasure, a bench of Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice Sunil Gaur directed the ministry to issue a notification after changing the land use within two days. It refused to grant more time to the central government’s counsel for seeking instructions.
‘There is too much of seeking instruction. The matter has been lingering for more than three years and despite various orders from this court since 2007, no notification was issued by the ministry,’ the bench said, while directing the ministry to issue the notification within two days.
The court was hearing a petition filed by the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA), seeking a direction to the central government for allotment of additional land to the high court, which faced paucity of space.
Appearing for the lawyers’ association, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) A.S. Chandhiok said that following the court’s 2007 order, the ministry of urban development had allotted 2.74 acres to the court for its use in 2008. But no notification changing the use of the land from residential to institutional has been issued.
The DHCBA president sought a direction to the ministry to act promptly in compliance with the court’s previous order.
He also asked the court to direct the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to make its stand clear as the land is near the historic Purana Qila.
To his submission, the bench issued notice to the ASI and sought its response by the next date of hearing. The bench fixed Sep 14 for further hearing of the matter.
