New Delhi, November 23
The Supreme Court today finally gave relief to over 25,000 Delhi traders against the sealing of their shops in residential areas after they had closed them voluntarily. The court said the Monitoring Committee appointed by it would examine their cases individually to find out whether they were entitled to operate under Centre’s notifications on mixed land use.
It asked the MCD to issue clear notification against misuse of residential building for commercial purposes in future with a direction that for any violation, the Deputy Commissioner of each zone, Superintending Engineer of the corporation and the SHO of the area concerned would be held “personally” liable for allowing such activities.
The Centre and Delhi Government were directed to come out with a clear scheme for planned development of Delhi within six weeks and discard policy of ad hocism.
The court, which had mellowed down considerably after the Ministry of Urban Affairs and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) had sought mercy to the traders, however, said the relief was temporary and subject to examination of each case by the committee.
It refused to give any relief to 34 businessmen, who had filed false affidavits about the closure of their ventures before the committee while their shops were found to be functioning by it during a random check.
Of the 25,000 traders, who had earlier given undertaking to close down their shops, but later tried to take shelter under the September 7 and 15 notifications on mixed land use, 18,465 had filed fresh affidavits as per the committee’s fresh report placed before a Bench, headed by Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal.
