Delhi traders seek regularisation of unauthorised colonies to escape sealing

Following Mondays Supreme Court order to seal commercial establishments in unauthorised colonies in Delhi within three weeks, the citys traders have demanded regularisation of all unauthorised colonies in the given time.

New Delhi, Aug 28 : Following Monday's Supreme Court order to seal commercial establishments in unauthorised colonies in Delhi within three weeks, the city's traders have demanded regularisation of all unauthorised colonies in the given time.

Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said a meeting of prominent traders and elected representatives will be convened to look into the matter.

"We would demand that government regularise the unauthorised colonies over the three-week period that it has. Traders could be spared thus of the wrath ofealing," said Khandelwal.

Traders have warned that the sealing could result in financial ruin for thousands of shop owners, many of whom have been running their establishments for decades. It could result in job losses for thousands of employees.

A three-judge Bench comprising of Justices Arijit Pasayat, C K Thakker and Lokeshwar Singh Panta have asked the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to stop business activities in over 1500 unauthorised colonies in Delhi.

The Bench, however, has exempted establishments that have maximum area of 20 square meters and those that fall under the 24 exempted categories.

On August 24, Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice D K Jain warned the Centre and the MCD of contempt proceedings if they failed to carry out the sealing drive.

The MCD counsel filed applications seeking a stay of sealing operations till the Centre approved a proposal for regularising the unauthorised colonies.

The counsel told the Bench that the matter is under the consideration of the Union and the Delhi Cabinet, and hence called for the directions for sealing to be stayed.

On August 14, the Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee had directed the MCD to begin the sealing of all commercial structures in unauthorised colonies from August 20.

In September 2006, civic authorities in the capital faced violent protests over the sealing and demolition of illegal shops. The drive resulted in the loss of four lives.

ANI