RTI activist claims his bid to check illegal constructions in Delhi has antagonised members of the civic body
RTI activist claims his bid to check illegal constructions in Delhi has antagonised members of the civic body
Thirty-three-year-old Mohit Sharma took the RTI route to put an end to the civic mess in his colony, caused by rampant unauthorised construction. But now he claims a threat to his life. And his finger is pointed at the MCD.
The MCD's demolition drive against illegal constructions in Delhi never
really took off. Representative photo
"I sought this information regarding illegal constructions in Shahdara. As a consequence, I started receiving threat calls. But on March 12 at 1 pm, three MCD employees came to my home and threatened my family," said Mohit.
East Delhi resident Mohit works for an NGO and also runs a confectionery store. He had applied for information
| Neighbourhood Watch |
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The Delhi High Court ruled on February 24 that every 'neighbour' has a legal right to approach the court against illegal constructions in his area.
Justice S N Dhingra held that a neighbour has the locus standi to file petitions and that the courts were obligated to entertain their pleas and provide remedies. The court's remarks came while deciding a petition filed by one Nazir Hussain against an order of a trial court.
Hussain had filed a civil suit against his neighbour Neeta Goyal for allegedly indulging in unauthorised constructions at the property adjoining his Pahari Dheeraj home in the Walled City. |
under RTI Act 2005, regarding the illegal encroachments in his area. The CIC has heard the matter three times and the fourth hearing is scheduled for March 17.
The CIC has also ordered the Public Information Officer (PIO) to provide all the information at the earliest, but Mohit said he has not received the full details so far.
"Then on March 12, executive engineer BMN Rao, assistant engineer Umesh Singh and another person came to my home. Singh threatened me by saying you are too young to be flirting with danger. You do not have any idea of what you are doing. He also said I must accept before the information commission that I have received all the details or they will kill me," said Mohit.
A written complaint was filed by Mohit at Seemapuri police station on March 13.
When contacted by MiD DAY, MCD official Umesh Singh rejected all charges against him. "We have done nothing. We are government employees. How can someone expect us to go inside someone's house and give death threats? Mohit is a smart guy; he has filed the RTI since he himself is living in a 5th floor flat, which is illegal," said Singh.
