A bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur, however, made it clear that no further time on any ground whatsoever would be granted on this issue.
The bench, also comprising Justices A K Sikri and R Banumati, said the decision in this regard can be deferred for some time to await the outcome of report of an expert committee on the identification of floodplain.
"Exercise to consider the aforesaid aspect has not taken place, or for some reason or the other, whether it was because of dispute between L&DO and DDA on the issue of land ownership or otherwise.
"However, the development which have taken place in recent times, particularly the orders of the National Green Tribunal, point to the fact that things have started moving and it would be known in near future as a result of study conducted by the Expert Committee, whether area in question where the Bus Depot stands, is viable for this purpose or not, directing the DTC to demolish the Bus Depot at this juncture may not be appropriate and the decision in this regard can be deferred for some time to await the outcome of the report of the identification of floodplain," the bench said in its 23- page order.
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The apex court noted that chance was given by the high
court keeping in view the submission of the Delhi government and DTC that the "bus depot was constructed to serve greater public purpose; the area in question was, as a matter of fact, was not falling on the river bed; and there was no threat to environment or ecology in having the Bus Depot at the given site".
It also referred to NGT's January 13 last year order in which it had passed a slew of directions pertaining to identification of floodplain.
The high court, on October 20, 2015, had shot down DTC's plea on the issue, saying it was an abuse of the court process to seek extension of time after undertaking to shift it.
The high court had also said that it had in 2012 given six months to either shift the depot or change land use of the site and there was "no justifiable reason" now for further extension.