NEW DELHI: The urban development department stated on Saturday that there was no provision requiring a person to seek permission from police for carrying out construction activity.
Additional chief secretary (urban development) Navin Kumar Choudhary issued a circular saying that a “misconception” was prevalent that a person needs to obtain permission from police for constructing a building.
Choudhary said building construction activity was regulated by Municipal Corporation of Delhi and other local bodies in their respective jurisdictions through the finalising of layout plans, sanctioning of building plans, and issuing completion certificates.
“There is no provision under Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957 by which a person is required to seek permission from police for carrying out construction,” the circular read. It added that there were certain provisions that gave police the power to inform MCD about an offence under DMC Act.
“Therefore, Delhi Police is directed to sensitise their field officials to prevent the misuse of the provision of law and to remove the misconception that there is any need for permission from police for carrying out any construction of a building,” Choudhary said in his order. However, the police authority will continue to assist and provide full support to all municipal officials and other municipal employees in the exercise of their lawful authority, it added.
The circular was issued a day after Union home minister Amit Shah reviewed the law and order situation in the city in a meeting, which was attended by CM Rekha Gupta, Delhi home minister Ashish Sood and police commissioner Sanjay Arora.
In the meeting, Shah made it clear that the permission of Delhi Police was not required in matters related to construction in the city.
