SC expresses concern over growing menace of illegal colonies

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India addressed the issue of growing illegal colonies in cities, on Monday. A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and B R Gavai appointed Gopal Sankaranarayanan, Senior Advocate, as amicus curiae in the matter, to suggest ways for the states to tackle this problem. The bench expressed concern over the grave consequences of illegal colonies, even causing floods in Hyderabad and Kerala.

The state governments were directed to take cognizance of the matter and come up with a comprehensive action plan. They also directed to take punitive action against officers who allowed illegal constructions. One of the suggestions made by the bench in this regard was stopping the registrations so that the people cannot claim equities.

The apex court has stipulated that the amicus curiae submit its suggestions to the court in two weeks’ time, for the purpose of which it is permitted to send questionnaires to the states and union territories. It also directed the state governments to furnish all records and information to the amicus curiae.

A petition was filed in the Supreme Court by social worker Juvvadi Sagar Rao alleging that the Government of Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh have been regularising illegal colonies in their respective states causing unregulated growth, traffic jams, urban flooding, etc.