Illegal registration of properties is under the glare of the Delhi high court that has slammed the civic agencies for allowing it to occur as a “way of life” in the capital. A bench of acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar earlier this week demanded an explanation from all authorities concerned on why they have not yet taken any strict action to curb the malaise. The observation and directive came during the hearing of a PIL alleging rampant corruption in the offices where properties are registered. “Is it not a way of life here,” the bench asked when the issue of illegal registration of commercial properties as residential ones was raised before it in the plea by a lawyer, who also sought a CBI or SIT probe into the matter. The court then proceeded to issue notices to the Delhi government, including its revenue, service and vigilance departments, the anti-corruption branch (ACB), CBI and the controller of accounts, seeking their stand on the allegations made in the petition.