Displeased over "wastage" of nearly Rs 83 crore of "taxpayers money" to remove squatters from government flats at Sanjay Basti here, the Delhi High Court Wednesday directed the Centre to initiate prosecution against the CPWD officers who have allowed the encroachment to go on since 1977.
A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar pulled up the Urban Development Ministry and the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) for not being able to protect government land from encroachers, saying it has led to taxpayers money being paid to squatters as compensation for removing them.
"You could not protect your own land and now you are paying nearly Rs 83 crore to remove encroachers. It is not a small amount. This is how taxpayers money is being used? Your officers closed their eyes to the encroachment. Why should the amount be not deducted from their salary," the court said, adding that "prima facie connivance of CPWD officers was indicated".
It ordered that departmental ...
