New Delhi, Sep 2 - The Delhi High Court Wednesday expressed concern over the damage done to the parks in the capital due to social gatherings and asked the civic agencies to ensure marriages and other functions are not held in these places.

'The parks were not meant for such functions and if these events were allowed to be held there, an irreparable damage would be caused to the flora and fauna of the capital,' a division bench headed by Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah said.

Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) counsel submitted that 302 out of 675 parks have been put on the list where no social or private functions are allowed, and that the remaining parks will be similarly put out by 2010.

But the court asked the MCD to complete the phasing out of parks by end of 2009 and said, 'We should encourage the use of community centres for functions and marriages.