In Brief
This case concerns the scope of authority of the Monitoring Committee appointed by the Supreme Court to address misuse of residential premises in Delhi. The Court held that the Committee, constituted to prevent misuse of residential premises for commercial purposes and to address encroachments on public land, has no power to seal or demolish purely residential premises used only for residential purposes on private land, even if they contain unauthorized construction. The Committee's jurisdiction is strictly limited to its original mandate. The Court quashed Report No. 149 and ordered de-sealing of all residential properties sealed in violation of this principle, emphasizing that statutory procedures under the DMC Act must be followed for building violations, and Article 300-A protects against arbitrary deprivation of property rights."
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