Taking a stern view of repeated delays in housing judicial officers, the Delhi High Court on Thursday imposed strict timelines on the government and its agencies. “We don’t want lip service,” a bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela remarked while directing the Delhi government, the Public Works Department (PWD), and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to initiate tangible progress on housing construction within weeks.
The Court was hearing a batch of petitions filed by the Delhi Judicial Service Association, which sought directions to expedite the provision of government residential quarters for officers of the Delhi Judicial Service and Delhi Higher Judicial Service.
The Bench recorded the DDA’s submission that it would hand over a substantial parcel of land in Shahdara to the Delhi government’s Law Department. In response, the Law Department's Principal Secretary informed the Court that tenders would soon be floated to appoint a project management consultant through PWD. Advocate Sameer Vashisht, appearing for the Delhi government, assured the Court that the draft tender document would be finalised by July 28.
The Court, upon recording the submissions, directed that the selection process for the consultant be completed within a week thereafter, paving the way for the commencement of construction without further delay. It further noted that the DDA was in the process of identifying an alternative land parcel in Rohini, as the previously earmarked site was no longer suitable.
In earlier hearings, the High Court had criticised the authorities for failing to allocate and utilise funds earmarked for housing judicial officers, warning that any “laxity or slackness” in implementing the directions of the Supreme Court on this issue would not be tolerated.
The Court also noted a significant gap between the sanctioned strength of the judiciary and the availability of official accommodation. While the total sanctioned strength stands at 897 judicial officers, only 348 residential flats are currently available.
Additionally, the Court called upon the government to make a decision regarding the release of funds for the construction of flats in Dwarka, urging timely and coordinated action to address the acute shortfall.
The matter is listed for further monitoring after the expiry of the timelines set by the Court.
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