New Delhi, February 11: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Delhi High Court challenging the powers of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in relation to the Sealing of Unauthorised Construction Rules.
The petition, filed by Amit Sahni, a social activist and practicing advocate, argues that affected individuals must be given a copy of the sealing order before their premises are sealed. The petition further demands that the appellate authority’s details and the 30-day period for filing an appeal be included in the sealing order.
Sahni contended in his plea that due to a flaw in the rules, the final sealing order passed under the relevant law is not provided to the affected person before the sealing takes place. This denies the affected person the chance to avail themselves of the statutory remedy. As a result, individuals are often caught off-guard when their properties are sealed, with the orders communicated only after the action is carried out.
The plea argues that this practice of sealing premises without providing the sealing order first is an arbitrary exercise of power and is both unlawful and unconstitutional.
Sahni had previously made a representation on January 7, 2025, to the concerned authorities to address the issue, but to his knowledge, no action has been taken.
The PIL also seeks a direction to the MCD and NDMC to ensure that, as an interim measure during the pendency of the petition, a copy of the sealing order is provided to affected individuals before the sealing process begins.