MCD

In this article, Janvi Ahuja of SLS Hyderabad discusses how should I complain against illegal construction to MCD and get the property sealed.

Introduction

Illegal construction is building or doing a construction work which is not authorized or legally valid. This illegal construction is the consequence of urbanization, overpopulation and expanding slum areas and shanty towns. Even the Delhi High Court observes that illegal construction is rampant in national capital and needs to be stopped. Public officials need to ensure that the law is strictly complied with. Judicial notice can be taken of the fact that when a building is illegally constructed, it impacts not only the physical enjoyment of the property of the neighbors but also results in illegal intervention in water circulation and the sewage system, which has been rampant in the city. The development in the city has to abide by the statutory master plan of the city. This was observed in a PIL by All India Anti-Corruption and Crime Prevention Society.

Illegal and unauthorized construction has made Delhi a dangerous city to live. There is a need to unify the three municipal bodies as the splitting of MCD into three had not improved the situation. Pulling up the three municipal corporations of Delhi, a bench at HC said that the court was flooded with PIL against illegal and unauthorized construction which showed no regulation was being followed by civic bodies. The need to unify MCD’s was observed, MCD reunification had not improved the situation. There is a need to unify the truncated MCD’s, to get rid of illegal and unauthorized construction going out.

Order of demolition and stoppage of buildings or works in certain cases and appeal.

Where the erection of any building or execution of any work has been commenced, or is being carried on, or has been completed without or contrary to the sanction referred to in section 336 or in contravention of any condition subject to which such sanction has been accorded or in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or bye–laws made thereunder, the Commissioner may, in addition to any other action that may be taken under this Act, make an order directing that such erection or work shall be demolished within such period not exceeding thirty days as may be specified in the order, by the person at whose instance the erection or work has been commenced or is being carried on or has been completed and on the failure of that person to comply with the order, the Commissioner may himself cause the erection or the work to be demolished and the expenses of such demolition shall be recoverable from such person as an arrear of tax under this Act.

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Provided that no such order shall be made unless the person has been given an opportunity of being heard.

Which all places comes under the preview of MCD

Municipal Corporation of Delhi is an autonomous body which is one of the three municipalities in the national capital territory of Delhi, others being National Delhi Municipal Council and Delhi Cantonment. Within its jurisdiction is some most densely populated area in the world. It has unique distinction of providing civic services to rural and urban villages, resettlement colonies, regularized unauthorized colonies, slum settlement etc.

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Municipal Corporation of Delhi covers 12 Zones which are spread across three smaller municipal corporations:

  1. City
  2. Karol Bagh
  3. Sadar Paharganj
  4. Civil Lines
  5. Narela
  6. Rohini
  7. Central Delhi
  8. South Delhi
  9. West Delhi
  10. Najafgarh
  11. Shahdara South
  12. Shahdara North

Intervention by Common Cause

The High court of Delhi has issued directions to Municipal Corporation of Delhi for removing illegal construction, encroachments of public land and commercial establishments from residential area. The Act may be called as Delhi Laws (Special provision) Act, 2006 which prohibits illegal and unauthorized construction. A notice can be issued by local authorities for initiating action against the categories of unauthorized development referred in subsection (1) shall be deemed to have been suspended and no punitive action shall be taken till one year.

Institutional Structure and Regulation

Since there is already a move in India to bring in a Construction Law, it may now be a good idea to speed it formulation and then further enactment. This would essentially form the legal basis for the entire construction sector and would be essentially a compendium of all laws which have direct impact on construction business with necessary revisions to reflect latest developments and international best practices. This would further pave the way for declaring the construction activities as an industry.

How to check whether the property I am purchasing is built legally or not

  1. Check for the clear title papers.
  2. Check a proper sales deed (to know that the property has a clear title).
  3. Check for the power of attorney.
  4. Check to see if it is approved by leading bank.
  5. Check for the construction area and sanctioned area (so as to know if the construction is illegal or not in accordance with the plan.
  6. Check for the encumbrance certificate (it contains details of previous registrations which can be availed from sub registrar’s office.
  7. Check if the property has a registered society (in case it’s not a new construction).

What if the illegal construction already did some personal damage to you? Can you claim Compensation for the damage?

If the lease area is constructed illegally or without the permission of the society and causes damage to person, that damage may be factual or non-factual the owner is liable to compensate the parties to such damage. and in the case where local authority fails judiciary will come to rescue of affected party. A petition can be filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India in high court against the state and municipal corporation if they owe some compensation to the aggrieved party. you can claim for liquidated damages with a proof of harm caused, and negligence on the part of the owner. The owner of the illegal construction is legally liable to pay demolition cost and charges, and you can recover for damages suffer and the loss caused due to the act.

What to do when threatened by the parties involved in illegal construction

If an illegal construction is going on and you have filed a complaint in MCD, and without taking any action they dispose off your complaint, and the illegal construction owner is threatening you and warning you to stay away from their work, and you feel that they are powerful, your family is under pressure and scared the you can lodge a fir against that construction owner and the file a petition under 226 of constitution of India against MCD in Delhi High Court and a complaint about illegal construction in the form of PIL.

Where to lodge a complaint about illegal construction

Every city has some municipal corporation act, if any unauthorized construction takes place notice is issued to encroacher as to why the illegal construction should not be demolished, an opportunity is given to the shop owner/ resident to file a reply. Only then the reasoned order is passed, then the option is available to the resident owner to move to the court and obtained stay against demolition. Also a legal notice can be issued to municipal corporation and claiming damages for loss caused due to the property.

Making a complaint online

Lodging an online complaint is a tough job, as the grievance they face is not properly registered. There is an online portal launched by state government for launching complains of illegal sand mining. the main issue arises in filing this complaint is that many people there are uneducated. so there is another system of filing a complaint one can request to local administrative body to come into action to stop the unauthorized act of construction. A complaint can be made online and offline, the procedure is entirely transparent, right from reporting complaint to disposal action. An online complaint is filed through whatsapp (858 888 7773) or calling a toll free number (1533) or a complaint can be mailed or texted. MCD Commissioner K. S. Mehra said: “Since Internet is required to access Facebook, which has a limited spread in the community, we have tied up with an organisation at the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT) at Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, to develop a voice application through which any mobile user can post their complaints on the MCD Facebook page.”

Complain to police

What if your complaint has fallen on deaf ears. If you have requested a local administrative body to come into action to stop the unauthorized act of construction but the local body is not taking any action, and they are allowing them to carry on unauthorized construction by becoming mere spectators. Then the complain about it to police and municipalities. They will surely look at it. You need to make sure that immediate action takes place to stop ongoing illegal construction and to demolish unauthorized structure that they have already built.

How can an appeal be made at MCD tribunal

Appeal at MCD Tribunal is to be filed in the format prescribed under the DMC AT (Procedure) Rules, 1986. Appeal at MCD Tribunal can be filed against any demolition/ ceiling order in MCD which falls within the ambit of Section 344, 347, 349 of the MCD Act. At present, the MCD Tribunal is located at Tis Hazari District Courts in Delhi and the court follows the procedure prescribed under the MCD Act for staying or quashing any demolition /ceiling order in MCD within the parameters prescribed under the law.

Process:

  1. The copy of the order of demolition or sealing passed by the MCD/NDMC is to be annexed at first if the same has been received otherwise exemption for the same is to be sought from the court specifically.
  2. An advance copy of the appeal before the Appellate Tribunal MCD is to be served on MCD either at the office of the Chief Legal Officer or through the post.
  3. One extra set of the Appeal before the Appellate Tribunal MCD is also to be filed.
  4. Registration fees for the Appeal before the Appellate Tribunal MCD of Rs 100/- is to be paid in cash at the office of the Registrar.

How are Illegal and unauthorized property sealed

Illegal construction in Delhi is targeted. And to ensure that builders do not dupe innocent people, municipalities demolished the property. Not only this central zone of civic agency demolishes several property that are carried on by owners and are illegal. After a complaint is filed, the authorities go for investigation, and then is it deems that the property is illegally or unauthorized then a reasonable time is given to them, time being a letter to the registrar is sent to them, ensuring the owner of the property can’t sell them. After a reasonable time if a person is unable to prove him right then the property can be confessed.

Power to seal unauthorized construction

Delhi High Court said that it is High time officials enforce the law, High Court declined to order a CBI probe and demolition of illegal construction, observing that it would do so only when correct and complete picture is brought before it.

The directions to seal the unauthorized construction was given during the hearing of PIL by People All India Anti-Corruption and Crime Prevention Society, which had sought direction to the authorities to demolish 75 illegal constructions in the south Delhi Municipal Corporation.

The bench at the High Court said that the commissioner shall not prepare any report against the illegal construction without hearing the owner of the property. “citizens must follow the law and officials must do their duty,” the court said adding that the construction that is not according to the law will not be protected from demolition at any cost.

 

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References

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23 COMMENTS

  1. Respected sir / madam

    We are the residence of nasirpur, new delhi – 110045, the main concern for sending you this complaint is, in our area there is a property constructed which is properly illegal, because there is only a plot from many years and every one knows that there is no one who is the owner of this property, and
    Suddenly some people made there a property, (Address of property is – a-1/15, street no 1, nasirpur harijan colony, near indira gandhi library, palam – new delhi -110045) and a person living there. He don’t have any legal property paper, s regarding this land, he is living there illegaly so, we are requesting you to kindly send a team or kindly send this request to concern department for verify the document of this property.
    Kindly verify the property documents of a-1/15, street no 1, nasirpur harijan colony, near indira gandhi library, palam – new delhi -110045)
    Thanking you
    Residence
    Nasirpur colony.

  2. Dear sir
    Here in sultan puri G block north west part of delhi pincode is 110086. in our area unauthorised construction made by our niegbour. They covered the street or area from both side and make the plot Illegally without any mcd approved sanctionsanction and it againts the plans of building by law.The resident of the house made the slabs both side and out a grill in very narrow street.If any strict action would be taken, then the construction will be stopped. But now onwards the above cited property is constructing in so hasty manner. We raised the complaint againt it in police station but they did not take any serious steps.
    I request kindly take my complaint seriously and come once to see this construction site so that MCD will judge & see the real situation construction Kindly demolish the unauthorized structure that he has already built before a tragedy occurred.

  3. Dear Sir/Madam,
    I did many complaint on DDA311 app.Complaint only forwarded.No action has been taken.There are some contractors in area who have contact with MCD officers.They take some money for every unauthorized construction.Money is collected at big scale. Unauthorized construction is being done in whole colony.
    Neeraj Kumar
    8368744900

  4. The neigbouring house and adjacent wall , being demolished, is causing vibrations and loud sounds in my house. What is the allowable norms/ways, in which a demolition of the house be taken up by that builder? I fear my walls being loosened by hammering the walls and roof , on demolition. Is there no way or rule fixed to break it mechanically in a fixed duration of time? Are big hammers allowed in a neigbourhood already with residing neighbours, in row housing (SFS) type ? with walls adjacent to the next house?

  5. PMO
    [email protected], [email protected]
    > Ms. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi,
    > Union Minister of WCD,
    > [email protected], [email protected],
    > Secretary, WCD, [email protected]
    > Member Secretary, NCW, [email protected], J.S. [email protected]
    Min. of Social Justice and Empowerment.
    [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
    DELHI POLICE
    [email protected]
    Subject: STOP IMMEDIATELY UNAUTHORISED CONSTRUCTION IMMEDIATELY ON COMMON ROOF IN DDA SFS FLAT IN FLAT NO.12, PKT D, MAYUR VIHAR-2, DELHI.91.
    RESPECTED SIR/MADAM,
    SUB: STOP IMMEDIATELY UNAUTHORISED CONSTRUCTION IMMEDIATELY ON COMMON ROOF IN DDA SFS FLAT IN FLAT NO.12, PKT D, MAYUR VIHAR-2, DELHI.91.
    I AM SR. CITIZEN, RETIRED FROM PMO, NSCS.. MR. K.M. CHOUDHURY, FLAT NO.12, PKT D, MAYUR VIHAR-2, HAS CONSTRUCTED UNAUTHORISED FLAT AND FORCIBLY ENCROACHD THE WHOLE ROOF. ON THE COMMON ROOF WHICH IS MEANT FOR 4 FLATS. AND HE STOPPED MY WATER SUPPLY. HE SHIFTED MY WATER PIPES OVER BATHROOM, OF MY OVERHEAD TANK AND WATER IS NOT REACHING IN THE WATER TANK. IT IS REQUESTED THAT MY WATER PIPES MAY BE CONNECTED ORIGINALLY AND HIS UNAUTHORISED CONSTRUCTION MAY BE SEALED/DEMOLISHED. HE HAS REFUSED TO FOLLOW MY REQUEST.

    YOURS
    11.09.19.
    (RAVINDER KUMAR)
    NO.11, PKT D, MAYUR VIHAR-2, DELHI.91.
    PH, 9818258288,22773680

  6. I would like to draw your kind attention about a serious unauthorized/illegal construction at street ( No.9 pankha road Mohan Nagar Nagal Raya ) is going on, by the local resident/local dealer for sell/rent. They have made a unauthorized wall in the street and closed our street. in the present colony there are 12 street, out of which mostly are opened, but now street No. 9 are blocked made a wall by such type of responsible department is not looking into the matter towards such illegal act and one from the street come forward to oppose them due to their terror.
    I request kindly take my complaint seriously, visit and take the legal action against the culprit at the earliest. waiting for your out ck action please.

  7. dear sir,
    this is to draw ur kind attention in regards to the small flats which r being cunstructed in Raj nagar p block by the builder on fourth floor which is the violation of mcd 15 meter caping for builder flats…and these (bacha)flats are sold out without registry..resulting we are not getting electricty connection……one more thing in my building we have total 12 flats 8 in front and 4 in back…..excluding 1 in rooftop….
    stilt parking is being sold out to every body….which tacnically cant accomodate 12 cars….so my question is
    1—- Can we take a legal action against him.
    2—– Do we have any mechanism which tells us legally about the no. of cars that one stilt parking can accommodate here we have roughly 140 gaj parking space.

    3—- why MCD not taking any actions even when everything is clearly visible.

    4—-All the flats are registered and the irony It is being done under the nose of MCD.

    So this is a big issue which I hope you will notice with action…..as there are hundred of middle class people who have invested there whole life earning into their flats and builders are cheating upon them…..

    Hope you will bring my request into your consideration…and escalate this ASAP.

  8. Please help me to understand. How can i take the appropriate action against all the flats in DDA societies for encroachment. Does it matter, if construction has been done some year back. would it make that construction legal?

  9. Nobody likes Pollution. Earlier wall heights of Independent houses of 200, 300 , 400 sq yard used to be 1.5 to 2 mtr. Now a days many people are constructing houses with 2 mtr side wall of brick & next 7 to 8 mtr of iron or brick. Increased height affect the free flow of air to neighboring building as well as affect sunlight. Its better if this blog side also publishes the maximum height of wall that can be constructed.

  10. People are installing artificial plastic shades, Sun Shades on the windows, balconies & taris in Delhi. As buildings distance has been reduced because of increased FAR allowed. I request DELHI MCD, ARCHITECTURES BODY & other right thinking people to not allow this extensions. AS this hurt they neighbours right to Sunlight, Free & smooth Flow of Air, Hamper the growth of Plant & trees, Endanger the safety of neighbours, in case of storm & earth quake.
    Appeal to all .

  11. To
    MCD/Dda
    Sir,I beg to draw your attention that Their is a illegal construction going on in our area by local dealer.Due to this work their is lot of noise and dust pollution all the time ,as well as The NGT has banned for construction due to pollution and they are pairing two plots which is also illegal
    Do the needful action so that this practice should be stop
    Address C-3/15-16 sector-11 Rohini-110085 New Delhi

  12. To
    MCD/Dda
    Sir, Their is a illegal construction going on in our area by local dealer.Due to this work their is lot of noise and dust pollution all the time ,as well as The NGT has banned for construction due to pollution and they are pairing two plots which is also illegal
    Do the needful action so that this practice should be stop

  14. Dear sir, i beg to draw your kind attention towards the serious/unauthorized construction/illegal construction by the owner of second floor , new delhi-110063 on the roof of second floor. dear sir as there is three floors i.e ground , first and second floor. there is no 3rd floor. there is a roof only after second floor. the owner have illegally unauthorized construction on the roof s being carried out without any MCD approved sanction plan & it is against the plans of building bye-law. If any strict action would be taken, then the construction will be stopped. MCD officials are requested to take stringent action against these house owners, and also requested to levy heavy penalty on this house owner who carried out serious unauthorized/illegal without any MCD approved sanction plan.

    I request kindly take my complaint seriously and come once to see this construction site so that MCD will judge & see the real situation construction Kindly demolish the unauthorized structure that he has already built before a tragedy occurred.WAITING FOR YOUR QUICK ACTION PLEASE.

  15. Encroachment on conman parks and road, In-legal construction is on high speed at Pocket -D Mayur Vihar phase 2. Not only pocket D only It is going in All Mayur Vihar Phase 2 DELHI-110091. responsible authorities are set and not take any action against in-legal construction or encroachment over park or road by installing Gamla’s on road and parks.

  16. Dear Sir,
    I have seen many illegal encroachment are happening in A-Block, Harijan Basti of Kondli, East Delhi. There are many people who parks their cars outside their houses and don’t move even after pleading by visitors in the colony. They start fighting but do not let others car pass. Also, the developed road has been damaged by their never ending construction. A person Rajpal along with his sons is harassing a lot whenever people passes in front of his house.
    This person has keep on spreading the demolished material on the road and covered around 20 yard area by encroachment. Please remove them from the road. We really got fed up with his behaviour.

  18. Dear sir/madam,
    Zakir nagar street no. 2 in south delhi 110025. Complete road has been covered with concreed lsinter in street no.2 zakir nagar so many unathorised consruction made by the local people they covered the street and making ileagle constructions. so please take action as soon as possible ,thanking you

  19. I beg to draw your kind attention about a serious unauthorized/illegal construction at property C/o Shanti Devi H.no B4C street No.10 (Bhim Gali) Budh Bazar New Modern Shahdara Near mandoli Road Delhi-110032 (M.C.D, East Delhi, Shahdara) is being carried out without any MCD approved sanction plan & it is against the plans of building bye-law.
    The resident of this house has built up a toilet in front of his house which is constructed on the street itself. the breadth of the street becomes only 05 feet from 10 feet at that point. causing disturbances in the smooth flow of the traffic and for the residents of nearby. It also leads a stinking foul smell and situation is even worse in rainy season when it starts flowing on the road. It is also a place where mosquitos are breeding and is also will be the reason for other diseases. People there often fall ill due to malaria and other mosquito diseases
    The total street breadth is 12-15 feet and owner has covered appx. 6ft x 7ft area on the street and. which completely cover a lot of street. Due to this there is a very little space for walking and driving on the Street and there is no space for passer by vehicles and all this construction has been narrowing the passage of the street.
    If any strict action would be taken, then the construction will be stopped. But now onwards the above cited property is constructing in so hasty manner. MCD officials are requested to take stringent action against these house owners, and also requested to levy heavy penalty on this house owner who carried out serious unauthorized/illegal without any MCD approved sanction plan
    Please do something immediately otherwise the people/passerby have no space to walk and vehicles are also not able to reach at main road.
    I request kindly take my complaint seriously and come once to see this construction site so that MCD will judge & see the real situation construction Kindly demolish the unauthorized structure that he has already built before a tragedy occurred.

    Thanks & Regards!

  20. I DHARAM SINGH SO LATE SH KISHORI LAL R/O F-50 DAWARIKA PURI NAVEEN SHAHDARA DELHI 110032 AGAINST THE STAY BY SH VIPIN KUMAR RAI ADJ KKD ON 22.08.17OF REGARDING THE PROPERTY OF 24/1/B MAHARAM MOHALLA DELHI 110032 ” CONSTRUCTION , TITLE ,POSSESSSION ,BUT NO ANY ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN YET ,ILLEGAL FACTORY OF PRITING PRESS HAS BEEN STABLISED AND FOUR STORY BUIDING HAS BEEN MADE .NOW THE CASE IS PENDING BEFORE THE COURT “MS SUCHI LALER ADJ .KKD .PENDING BEFORE COURT DATE OF 14/9/2018 FOR PROPER JURIDICTION.

  21. sir, here in south delhi 110044 vishkarma colony near pahaladpur adress b-7aof behind of in street unathorised consruction made by the local people they covered the street and making ileagle constructions. so please take action as far ,thanking you

  22. dear sir and madam
    i have requst to you because not contruction work not ligli not provide
    i am navneet from tughlakabad
    v.p.singh camp raliway colony tughlakabad
    new delhi-110044

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