SC refuses to halt Delhi sealing, hearing on Monday
The Supreme Court on Thursday fixed Monday for hearing of applications filed by the Centre and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) seeking permission for not resuming the sealing drive in the Capital against those traders, who have given undertakings to stop misuse of residential areas for commercial purposes.
The court, however, refused to stay sealings till the time the matter comes up for hearing, as pleaded by MCD. Appearing for the civic agency, Additional Solicitor General Amarendra Sharan and senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi had sought permission from the court that till the time the matter comes up for hearing, the authorities be allowed to use their administrative discretion.
“We do not know what is your administrative discretion,” the Bench, headed by Justice K G Balakrishnan, remarked. The SC Monitoring Committee will now decide whether the sealing drive will be stopped till Monday.
The Monitoring Committee will meet later on Thursday evening to take a decision on the issue. Late on Wednesday night, the committee had announced that there will be no sealings on Thursday. The decision came after the Delhi administration candidly confessed its inability to maintain law and order if sealings were to resume.
Meanwhile, traders ended their 72-hour strike on Thursday morning. Protestors had blocked roads in Mayur Vihar, Noida Mod in East Delhi and parts of the Ring Road on Wednesday.
Through another petition filed by Urban Development Ministry, the Centre has sought modification of September 29 order by which the sealing was to commence on the premises of about 44,000 traders, who were allowed to continue their business till October 31 in view of the festivals.
The MCD has also filed a similar application seeking suspension of the sealing drive against traders who have given an undertaking to prevent misuse of the premises in residential areas.