Turned Blind Eye When Promoters Undertook Unauthorised Constructions: Calcutta HC Directs Disciplinary Inquiry Against KMC Officials Over Building Collapse

The Calcutta High Court has directed the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to take steps including initiating a disciplinary inquiry and potentially suspending the officials who were involved in overseeing illegal constructions in Garden Reach, where the collapse of an under-construction building led to fatalities.  

A division bench held: The said officers appear to have remained indifferent to their statutory duties and had turned a blind eye when the owners and promoters undertook unauthorized construction. Hence, investigation with regard to complicity of the officers of Kolkata Municipal Corporation and/or local councillors in the crime is of utmost importance to unravel the nature and extent of conspiracy. The investigating agency is directed to investigate this angle and submit report on the adjourned date.

The Court was hearing a plea against the illegal constructions in the area, and a report was submitted by the Advocate General and KMC.

Court noted that the promoters of the unauthorised building had been arrested.

It was submitted by the Advocate General that some owners were arrested and others were at large, but steps were being taken to apprehend them,

It was noted that there was rampant unauthorised construction in the premises concerned and that the same could not have been undertaken without connivance with local officials and councillors.

Counsel for KMC submitted that show-cause notices were issued against officers who had been entrusted duty to supervise illegal constructions in the area.

Court directed the KMC to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the erring officers, and potentially suspend them if found guilty.

Accordingly, the Court called for a report on the same on the adjourned date.