As the Delhi Police continues to escalate efforts to curb the crime of drug trafficking, it has chosen 102 structures owned by alleged drug peddlers to be demolished. the structures had breached the building bylaws. The police have filed violation reports with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) seeking the demolition of these buildings owned by accused drug peddlers. This strategy comes at a time when the Supreme Court has also been talking of growing concerns after recently questioning the demolition with bulldozers of properties of persons accused in criminal cases and promised to create pan-India guidelines.
Focus On Alleged Drug Traffickers’ Properties
Delhi Police’s Crime Branch has booked 102 properties across the city, some of which are suspected to be owned by gangsters who are found to be involved in the drug trade. These have been said to be located in Northeast, Outer, North, and West Delhi. Most of these properties are of people who have been arrested multiple times for the same charges of narcotics but have gone scot-free upon bail, police sources said.
According to a senior officer, “Many of the accused were found to be operating their drug trade from these properties.” ANTF used to visit the sites and send a note of violation of building bylaws of such property to the MCD for appropriate action.
Previous Efforts Under MACOCA
The Delhi Police had earlier tried to prosecute most of these traffickers by lodging cases of MACOCA. However, a large number of cases have collapsed in the court for lack of evidence. The authorities therefore changed tack and set its sights on violations more in the realm of structure rather than criminal charges.
At a meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre, NCORD, which coordinates anti-drug efforts with the central government, such findings were shared. The officials present in the meeting asked for swift action to be taken by MCD against the properties. However, the police officials seemed discontent with the pace of progress. Only five structures had faced action and many more were waiting for demolition.
Delays And Challenges In Demolitions
As per Indian Express, some properties are under the jurisdiction of other authorities of the government. These include the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board and the Delhi Development Authority. This complicates matters. The police told the MCD to demolish the structures instead of partially damaging them and to hasten the process altogether.
Moreover, the authorities ponder whether provisions under BNSS may be invoked to invoke brutal measures against drug smugglers through bulldozer demolitions.
Supreme Court On Bulldozer Demolitions
The Supreme Court has expressed deep concern over the bulldozing of houses of accused persons earlier this month. It was noted that such actions could not go unpunished in the absence of law procedure. While the court promised to establish national guidelines in the matter, it made it clear that unauthorized constructions would not be protected.
Justice Gavai said, “Every municipal law has provisions for demolishing unauthorized constructions… We are not going to protect any illegal structures or encroachments, not even temples on public roads.”
