Delhi Masterplan 2021: SC rejects Centre's plea seeking modification of order

The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected the plea of the Centre seeking modification of its order to invite suggestions from the public on amending the Master Plan of Delhi-2021.

The central government had filed a petition in the apex court, saying that there was no need to take suggestions or objections of the public as Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had undertaken this exercise earlier.

Hearing the Centre’s plea, a bench of Justices MB Lokur and Navin Sinha said, “We have not acceded to the request (of Centre and DDA) seeking modification of our order.

Earlier on May 15, the apex court had given the DDA 15 days time to implement its action plan in which it had listed out steps to stop illegal construction in the city.

The DDA had proposed an action plan, which included the launch of an interactive website and a smartphone application to enable the public register their grievances regarding the illegal construction.

The DDA had also proposed to fix responsibility on officials in cases of illegal construction activities in the national capital and violation of the master plan and building bye-laws.

The apex court had on March 6 stayed any “further progress” in amending the Delhi Master Plan 2021 to protect unauthorised construction from the ongoing sealing drive in the national capital, sternly observing that this ‘dadagiri’ (bullying tactics) must stop.

The Master Plan-2021 is a blueprint for urban planning and expansion in the metropolis to ensure overall development and the proposed amendments are aimed at bringing a uniform floor area ratio (FAR) for shop-cum-residential plots and complexes on par with residential plots.

FAR is the ratio of a building’s total floor area (gross floor area) to the size of the piece of land on which it is built.

(With inputs from agencies)