Inspect DLF Place mall: Delhi High Court to DDA

Delhi HC on Tuesday told the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to inspect the DLF Place, a popular mall in south Delhi to find out if the kiosks inside it posed a risk to public health or safety.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar issued the direction after it was informed that the authorities had inspected only the Select Citywalk mall following the orders of the court.

The bench said that no orders are required to perform one’s duty.“You don’t need a court order to do your job. Go and inspect the second mall also,”the bench said. 

During the proceedings on Tuesday, the court also directed the DDA to file an affidavit on the inspection conducted at Select Citywalk and fixed the matter for April 18.   

Appearing for Select Citywalk mall, the counsel submitted that the petition was filed without any verification of facts. He stated that a “fishing inquiry was being conducted” and that the kiosks in the open areas were not unauthorised. The court was hearing a PIL alleging that commercial activities inside the open areas of the popular south Delhi malls — Select Citywalk and DLF Place — could pose a risk to public safety if there was a fire or an earthquake.