New Delhi, Oct 5 (PTI) Citing public safety concerns, the Central Information Commission has recommended that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi make public a zone-wise and ward-wise list of buildings identified as dangerous, along with details of notices issued and action taken.
The CIC made the recommendation while deciding an RTI appeal concerning dangerous buildings in Ward 81 of Quresh Nagar, where MCD records showed that three buildings were found in a dangerous condition between September 2023 and September 2024.
Information Commissioner Vinod Kumar Tiwari said that information concerning dangerous buildings, notices issued under the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act and action taken by the municipal authorities has a direct bearing on public safety.
“In such matters, a casual approach results in casualties,” the Commission observed.
The CIC recommended to the MCD commissioner that the civic body examine the feasibility of making the information available in the public domain, preferably on its website and in an easily searchable manner.
The list may include the location or address of the building, date of identification or survey, status of notices issued and action taken, subject to statutory restrictions and exemptions under the RTI Act.
Such proactive disclosure would advance the objective of the RTI Act and reduce the necessity for members of the public to seek such information individually through RTI applications, the CIC said.
According to information subsequently furnished to the applicant, three buildings in Ward 81 were found dangerous during the period covered by the RTI.
Three notices were issued under Section 348 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, though records of only two could be traced. Notices under Section 349 were also issued in respect of the three buildings, while 17 advisories concerning dangerous or repairable buildings were also issued.
The Commission also pulled up the MCD over the delay in furnishing the information.
It noted that the information was provided only after the matter reached the CIC and a hearing notice was issued.
The MCD had attributed the delay to “inadvertent oversight” and tendered an unconditional apology. However, the CIC said the explanation did not satisfactorily account for the substantial delay.
“The right to information cannot be rendered ineffective by administrative inaction, inadvertence or lack of coordination between different departments of a public authority,” it said.
The Commission directed that a copy of the order be forwarded to the MCD commissioner for consideration and necessary action on the recommendation. PTI MHS ARI
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