New Delhi: Obstructions created by potholes, poles and shopping kiosks on pavements, especially for the disabled, in the Delhi University’s North Campus on Tuesday led the Delhi high court to take MCD officials to task for “criminal negligence”.
A bench comprising acting chief justice Gita Mittal and justice C. Hari Shankar termed the situation as “extremely distressing” as the tactile markings on the pavements were “replete with obstructions”, including pillars, hoardings and signboards.
“You have tactile markings on pavements till it hits a tree or a pole. How dare you waste taxpayers’ money like this,” the court asked and observed it is a “criminal negligence on part of the person concerned”.
It directed the NDMC to give details of its officials who had designed and approved the plans, tenders and selected contractors and sanctioned payments for the works.
The bench said these obstructions prohibit access for any pedestrian, let alone those who are visually impaired. If this is what statutory authorities do, how can one blame the citizens.”
It said all civic bodies have to be mindful that facilities put in place for the disabled aren’t obstructed in any way. The bench asked the Noprth Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) to map the facilities available for the disabled in its jurisdiction and listed the matter for further hearing on Jan. 11 next.
The directions of the high court came while it was hearing a public interest petition (PIL) stating tactile markings on pavements in the North Campus outside prominent colleges were obstructed by police chowkis, bus stops, potholes among others.
