India, July 10 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday came down heavily on civic authorities over rampant unauthorised constructions across Delhi and the national capital region, ordering an independent audit of vulnerable areas, summoning top municipal officials, and warning that it would "attach personal responsibility" on officers who failed to act against illegal buildings despite repeated judicial directions.

A bench of justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan said it was "particularly bothered" by the conduct of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), observing that despite its May 20 directions highlighting dangerous unauthorised constructions in areas such as Lajpat Nagar and Sarojini Nagar, authorities had done little beyond is...