Other judges laugh at what we have to do: HC

Delhi residents may thank the courts for repeatedly passing orders that make the city a better place to live in, but the judges have a different take on what they are being called upon to do.

According to Delhi High Court Acting Chief Justice A K Sikri, the court could attend to more significant matters as well if only the Delhi government, civic agencies and other statutory bodies in the city performed their duties diligently.

Describing the situation as "sad" where courts have to do virtually everything in the city, Justice Sikri remarked that when judges from other countries visit Delhi, they laugh at what their counterparts are forced to do.

"When judges from other countries come, they also read the newspapers here. And they laugh at what we are made to do. All of it is your job and we are compelled to pass orders because you don't do anything on your own," said Justice Sikri on Wednesday as he heard a petition by the Naraina Industrial Area Association.

The Association had moved the court in 2009 with their grievances over choked water pipelines, bad roads, sewage issues, unauthorised construction, and encroachment by iron and scrap dealers.

The matter is being attended by the counsel for the Delhi government, Delhi Police, DDA, MCD, DJB, DSIIDC. The court has passed a string of orders, ranging from determination of who is the owner of the land, who will look after drainage and desilting, repair of roads, traffic management, and removal of encroachment. It has also given directives to authorities to get to the bottom of the unauthorised construction.

Despite these orders, the petition still awaits final disposal.

On Wednesday, the bench, also comprising Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw, pointed to the laxity being shown by authorities in resolving issues and wondered why they could not act on their own and in accordance with the law.

... contd.

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