Court Orders Action Against MCG Staff Over Ashok Vihar Illegal Building

GURUGRAM: A civil court has directed the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram commissioner to act against officers who, the court said, failed to stop illegal construction in Ashok Vihar even after the civic body knew about the violation from 2021 and had ordered demolition.

Civil Judge Junior Division Shivani Rana passed the directions while dealing with a plea seeking restoration of an electricity connection that had been cut on the corporation's recommendation. Petitioners Gaurav Khandelwal and Sonika Sharma told the court they had bought a flat in Ashok Vihar Phase 1 from a woman named Sushila in June 2025, that they had been paying electricity bills and municipal tax regularly, and that the corporation website showed their property as valid.

In June 2026, the power department disconnected the flat's electricity on MCG's recommendation. The corporation argued that building permission had not been taken and that it had sealed the building. The court dismissed the plea for reconnection, holding that payment of property tax or a valid status on the portal does not legalise unauthorised construction. Tax, the court said, is only a financial charge based on existing area and condition.

The judgment recorded that the municipal department had known of the illegal construction since 2021 and had issued a demolition order that year, yet the building was not brought down. The seal placed on the building was broken and construction continued. Sushila was able to sell the flats thereafter. The court observed that the corporation could have informed the sub-registrar not to register sale deeds, or could have carried out the demolition it had already ordered, but those steps were not taken.

The court directed the commissioner to proceed against officers who violated provisions of the municipal law in the matter. It noted that a similar direction for action against officials had been issued in another case as well. For flat buyers, the order is a reminder that municipal tax receipts and portal entries do not cure title or building-permission defects when enforcement files already mark a structure as illegal.

Ashok Vihar and other older colonies have seen repeated disputes over floors added without sanctioned plans and later sold to third parties. Buyers often discover the enforcement history only when electricity or sealing action begins. The court's refusal to restore power, paired with its call for departmental action, puts both the seller chain and civic enforcement delays under scrutiny. Implementation of the direction against named or identifiable officers will now rest with the commissioner's office.