New Delhi, May 12 -- The Supreme Court on Monday warned of criminal action against New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) officials over delays in conserving heritage structures inside the Delhi Golf Club, saying it would "break the myth of an elitist organisation going scot-free" while ordering a court-appointed commissioner to inspect the site before the next hearing.

A bench of justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and N Kotiswar Singh said, "We have to take NDMC to task. There is total abdication of duty, and even by the Land & Development Office."

The observation came pursuant to an order passed by the court on May 4 summoning the NDMC chairperson over a report prepared by environment conservationist Swapna Liddle, who is assisting the court i...