Delhi government simplifies construction process, eliminates need for police approval.

The Delhi government on Saturday said that no police permission was required for undertaking any construction work in the national capital. The clarification came a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the law and order situation in the city in a meeting, which was also attended by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora. The government’s directive came after it was brought to notice that the police misused the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act provisions by interfering in the construction work and taking bribes. The Delhi government Saturday issued a circular clarifying the role of police personnel when it came to under-construction buildings in the capital, a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah issued directions in this regard at a review meeting with the Delhi Chief Minister and the top brass of the Delhi Police.Building construction activity, the circular stated, is regulated by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and other local bodies in their respective jurisdictions. Various sections of the DMC Act, 1957, under which the civic body functions, provide for the finalising of the layout plan, sanction of the building plan and occupancy/completion certificate — but none necessitate seeking permission from the Delhi Police.
“There is no provision under DMC Act, 1957, by which a person is required to seek the permission from police for carrying out the construction,” the circular stated It added that there are, however, certain provisions in the DMC Act related to giving information by police to the MCD with respect to an offence under the DMC Act or any rule, regulation, or bylaws; carrying out investigation of such offence; and follow-up action.,misconception prevalent to the effect that a person needs to obtain permission from the police for carrying out construction of a building. It has also been brought to the notice that there is sometimes misuse of the provisions… for the purpose of rent seeking,” the circular stated.
“Therefore, the Delhi Police is directed to sensitise their field officials to prevent the misuse of the provision of law and to remove the misconception that there is any need of permission from police for carrying out any construction of building,” it also stated.
The notice, however, added that the police will continue to “assist and provide full support to all municipal officers and other municipal employees” in the exercise of their lawful authority.