New Delhi:
The Court expressed serious concern over recent incidents, including the building collapse in Delhi’s Saket and major fire accidents in Malviya Nagar and Aliganj in Lucknow.
A Bench of Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice Vinod Chandran said action should not be limited to builders alone after such incidents. The Court observed that government officials who failed to act against illegal constructions must also be held responsible.
The Supreme Court warned that if demolition orders are not implemented, the Chief Executive Officers of the concerned municipal authorities will be held personally accountable.
The Court also said contempt proceedings could be initiated against officials who fail to comply with its directions.
To examine the ground situation, the Court directed the formation of a special expert team comprising two senior professors from IIT Delhi and two draftsmen.
The team will conduct surveys in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar, Saket and Lajpat Nagar, along with officials of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. A similar survey will also be carried out in Aliganj, Lucknow.
The Court expressed concern over reports that nearly 93 per cent of buildings in Gurugram do not meet fire safety norms. It also criticised civic authorities for failing to act despite its earlier order dated May 20, 2026, and observed that issuing notices without sealing or demolishing unsafe buildings was not enough.
The Supreme Court directed senior officials of the concerned authorities to file action-taken reports and appear personally before the Court at the next hearing.
It stressed that illegal and unsafe buildings pose a serious threat to public safety and that strict compliance with its orders is essential.
