DU to cite 1943 letter in SC to oppose construction of highrise on north campus

    New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) The Delhi University will cite a 1943 letter written by an official in the government of British India to argue in the Supreme Court against construction of a highrise building on its north campus, varsity officials said Thursday.
    The varsity in the apex court will oppose the construction of the 37-storey building on a public land sold to a private firm, they said.
    The university has been opposing the construction on its north campus saying it will be in violation of the 2021 Master Plan of Delhi (MPD) and compromise with the safety of students.
    The varsity had even approached the Delhi High Court earlier in this connection which dismissed the petition in 2015 saying the land was not part of the university's north campus.
    The varsity again approached the high court this year challenging its order but the plea was dismissed as the court questioned the delay on DU's part.
    According to a varsity official, Clause 11.3 of the 2021 Master Plan of Delhi (MPD) says, "Restrictions on tall buildings would be necessary in important areas like Lutyen's Bungalow Zone, Civil lines and North Delhi campus. In case of Urban Extension, areas for specific Urban Design projects and tall buildings should be identified."
     The building is proposed to be constructed on a land which the DMRC sold to a private firm.
     The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had bought the land from the Defence Ministry for Rs 42.4 crore, said a varsity official, adding a portion of the land, which was for public and was even acquired on public money was subsequently sold to a private builder for Rs 218 crore.
     However, a varsity official said when they had petitioned in the high court, they did not have the copy of the 1943 letter written by the then joint secretary to the Government of India, the Department of Education, Health and Lands. The letter to the then chief commissioner of Delhi on October 25, 1943, stated that the university should be informed about any kind of construction activities.
    The varsity is likely to file a petition in the apex court citing this letter.
    The letter, a copy of which is with PTI, had also said that an area of approximately 582.44 acre should be considered to be the university enclave. The letter was written with a view to ensure that no "unseemly buildings are erected in the neighbourhood of the Delhi University and its colleges on the Old Viceregal Lodge Estate".
     "The area of 81.78 acres should lie considered to be a protective belt and the Civil Station Notified Area Committee and the Delhi Improvement Trust (now DDA) should consult the university before building plans are approved by them in respect of land under their control and the president of the Delhi Municipal Committee should be asked to ensure that buildings erected on the land under the committee's control are of good type," the letter said.
    It also said the Civil Station Notified Area Committee (now North Delhi Municipal Corporation) should inform the university of all applications for permission to construct additional buildings in the area of 25.78 acres (in the north of the proposed enclave) which is under private ownership, so that the university may have an opportunity of considering whether it may not desire to acquire the sites by purchase.
    The Delhi Improvement Trust should inform the university of any scheme which the trust might contemplate for the development of the areas adjoining the enclave, the letter said.
     Bipin Tiwary, the deputy dean, Works and OSD, Equal Opportunity Cell in the DU said, "We have presented the matter to the PMO and are hopeful that the prime minister will get the matter investigated.
     "How can public land acquired for public purposes can be converted to private use for constructing the tallest building in an area which is under zone C, where such construction is prohibited. Also as per the letter, the university's consent should be taken. How can the DDA, the DMRC, UD, MCD flout the regulations? We demand an independent enquiry to protect the public interest at large," he said. PTI SLB DPB