Today, On 2nd August, The Delhi High Court established a committee to review and improve the city’s administrative, physical, and financial infrastructure. The court expressed concern that Delhi is facing continuous crises, with the government and civic agencies frequently shifting blame instead of addressing issues.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday established a committee tasked with overhauling and reforming the administrative, financial, and physical infrastructure of the national capital.
A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela issued the order, highlighting that Delhi has been facing continuous crises, with various authorities shifting responsibility among themselves.
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The Court observed,
“Considering the aforementioned issues, it is no surprise that Delhi is moving from one crisis to another. One day there is a drought and the next day there is a flood. It is time that administrative, financial, and physical infrastructure of Delhi is relooked at.”
The committee will be chaired by the Delhi Chief Secretary and will include the Delhi Police Commissioner, the Vice-Chairman of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
The committee has been instructed to submit a report to the High Court within eight weeks.
The Delhi High Court emphasized that Delhi’s physical, financial, and administrative infrastructure is fundamentally outdated and inadequate for current needs.
The Court noted,
“With a population exceeding 3 crores, Delhi requires a more robust infrastructure. Due to various subsidy schemes, migration to Delhi is increasing, further boosting its population. The financial condition of the MCD is unhealthy, with no funds available for major infrastructure projects. The physical infrastructure, laid nearly 75 years ago, is not only inadequate but also poorly maintained. Recent tragedies show that court orders are not implemented and are treated as water over a duck’s back.”
The Court also criticized the Delhi government for not holding a single cabinet meeting since March, following the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case.
This order issued in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the organization Kutumb, seeking a high-level investigation into the deaths of three civil services aspirants in the basement of a coaching center in Rajendra Nagar.
The High Court expressed dissatisfaction with the Delhi Police‘s investigation into the incident and transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The focus areas will include administrative processes, physical infrastructure such as roads and public facilities, and the financial mechanisms underpinning these systems. By tackling these areas comprehensively, the committee intends to create a more robust framework for Delhi’s future development and day-to-day operations.