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Last Update: February 16, 2023, 15:42 IST
The plea states that in the event of a major earthquake like the one that killed over 41,000 people in Turkey-Syria, a large number of casualties could result. (Representative image / shutterstock)
The Delhi High Court had in 2019 asked the government to submit a phased action plan in case of an earthquake. With the government thus failing to comply, the petitioners recalled the recent devastation in Turkey and Syria following massive earthquakes.
The Delhi High Court on Thursday granted four more weeks to the Delhi government to respond to a plea raising concerns that the seismic stability of buildings in the national capital is poor. The plea states that in the event of a major earthquake like the one that killed over 41,000 people in Turkey-Syria, a large number of casualties could result.
A bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramaniam Prasad was hearing a contempt petition filed by advocate Arpit Bhargava against the Delhi government alleging that it did not comply with the High Court’s 2019 direction In which he asked for proper justice. And a detailed action plan will be made available to the public, giving step-by-step guidance about the measures to be taken as a precaution.
The High Court had directed the Delhi government to give a detailed action plan through the Department of Urban Development and Local Bodies, outlining the responsibilities of the concerned corporations and the areas which as per the government’s perception are at high risk.
The High Court had also directed that in the event of a proper detailed action plan not being made available to the public, all concerned authorities of the Government of NCT of Delhi as well as the highest authority of the MCD, Delhi Development Authority, New Delhi Municipal Corporation, Delhi The Cantonment Board and other local authorities shall continue to face contempt proceedings without further orders.
In view of the above, the contempt petition states that it is clear that in spite of such serious interference by the High Court over a period of five years, the Delhi Government has shown little concern for the larger public interest and a Not even an inch has moved forward. Formulation and implementation of an action plan at the grassroots level.
The petition states that the authorities from whom the clarification is to be obtained should indicate a clear timeline for assessment of individual buildings by the concerned engineers or other technical personnel after receipt of the application.
“In the absence of these and any other relevant details, the so-called Action Plan is, in the opinion of this Court, a mere formality, if not a mockery of the Court’s order,” the plea said.
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