Ahead of court hearing, MC acts against violators running businesses from homes
The misuse of residential premises for carrying out commercial activities continues unabated despite several drives launched by the civic authorities from time to time.
Around 50 units located on the dividing road of Sector 11- 12, 10-12 and Sector 10-11 of the city were sealed on Friday. The action comes in the wake of a PIL filed by a local resident in the High Court in 2022. The Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) has been directed to submit a reply in the court on October 14.
Birender Kardam, MCF Chief Engineer, said the action comes in the wake of the order of the court against unauthorised use of residential units for commercial purpose.
‘Temporary relief’
}Despite filing of three to four such petitions by local residents, the district authorities end up removing or sealing some units just ahead of the hearing date in the court. — Varun Sheokand, one of the residents who filed a PIL
It is alleged that owners of several residential units in Sectors 9, 10 and 11 have thrown open the rear entry of their houses in an illegal manner. They have opened showrooms, shops, gyms and other commercial bubs on the back side without permission resulting in damage to green belts, pollution and traffic bottlenecks.
The MCF had issued a public notice on October 7 asking the owners of the houses or residential units to close down the rear gates and remove their goods. They had been warned of removal or sealing of their units in view of the case pending in the High Court.
Two PILs were filed in the court more than 10 years ago regarding such activities in Sector 7-10 and the dividing road of Sector- 9-10. Sealing and removal of encroachments has been done more than three times in the past about 15 years. “Despite filing of three to four such petitions by local residents, the district authorities end up removing or sealing some units just ahead of the hearing date in the court,’’ says Varun Sheokand, one of the residents who had filed a PIL several years ago. He blamed the slackness of the authorities in implementing rules and regulations that has led to the recurrence of encroachments or illegal commercial activities.
The civic authorities registered FIRs against over 29 persons in April 2019 for breaking official seals and resuming commercial activities in Sector 9, 10 and 11. It had sealed as many as 115 units in compliance with the High Court order. The court had ordered action against the illegal commercial activities carried out in the residential pockets in response to a couple of petitions.
Offenders warned
The MCF had issued a public notice on October 7 asking owners of houses or residential units running commercial activites to close down the rear gates and remove their goods.
