KARACHI, Aug 24: The Sindh High Court has directed the chief controller of buildings, Karachi Building Control Authority, to conduct an inquiry into all cases of unauthorized constructions in the city and take action against he deputy controllers of building concerned in respective towns.

The chief controller should make it sure that no building is allowed to be built even if subsequent regularization is pending as it was only breach of violation rather compliance of law, SHC's division bench, comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Mohammad Afzal Soomro, observed, directing the chief controller to submit a compliance report within four weeks.

The court was hearing a petition filed by an NGO against unauthorized construction at plot A-60 Gulshan-i-Faisal, Bath Island. The NGO accused the KBCA of sheltering the respondent builders by not taking action against them. The court took serious notice of delinquency of KBCA officers for not stopping the illegal constructions, observing half-hearted and non-serious attempts were made to restrain construction.

No attachment or lawful authority was used to check the unauthorized constructions and property was allowed to occupy without occupancy certificate, the court observed.

It seems that just to give seemliness of punitive action, the trivial punishment was imposed which is far less than the illegality committed and enrichment drawn by facilitating the unauthorized construction.

Expressing dissatisfaction over comments filed by the KBCA officials, the court observed that no detail was made on record.

The court deplored that the law officers of KBCA sided the delinquent officers in the matter and pleaded for their mercy, observing such is not expected from law officers who are holding office to defend public interest rather than interest of delinquent officer.

The builders, developers, architectures and delinquent officers simply walk away enriching themselves, the court observed, adding innocent people who are lured to occupy buildings are left abandoned, without realizing the difficulties which they may follow.

The court also directed the KBCA to place the inquiry report against the delinquent officers in the case within two weeks.

Meanwhile, a division bench of the High Court of Sindh on Thursday ordered demolition of illegally constructed floors of Green Belt Residency Project at plot No 7/1, block-2 in Clifton.

The bench, comprising Justice Musheer Alam and Justice Munib Ahmed Khan, directed the KBCA officials to demolish illegal constructions with the help of area police, in the presence of the SHC Nazir to ensure compliance of the order.—PPI/APP