The Supreme Court has allowed de-sealing of commercial properties in unauthorised colonies here, in accordance with January 30 notification of the Centre.
New Delhi, Feb 13 : The Supreme Court has allowed de-sealing of commercial properties in unauthorised colonies here, in accordance with January 30 notification of the Centre.
But the permission was given with a condition that the owners have to give an undertaking that they will abide with the final order.
Earlier, on January 30, the Centre had given a notification to suspend demolition and sealing in Delhi, saying that the decision was taken after taking into consideration the "ground realities."
Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit was also very confident that the Supreme Court would not oppose the Centre's move to halt spare sealing of all structures built before January 2006.
The sealing in Delhi began in 1996, when the Supreme Court ordered closure of small industries in the residential areas by Dec 31, 1999. By 2000, only 39,000 units had been closed, leaving a vast bulk untouched.
In February 2006, the MCD started sealing commercial establishments in residential colonies, only to end the drive in May 2007 after the Central Government introduced a bill suspending the sealing.
The bill, however, did not go down well with the Supreme Court, which in August 2006 termed it invalid and ordered the sealing to continue.
The directions came on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking shifting of boastful showrooms operating from posh residential colonies in the city.
Thirty-four out of the 134 MCD wards have been marked as the worst affected areas infected with illegal commercialisation. It includes Nizammuddin, South Extension, Kalkaji, Jungpura, Malviya Nagar, Rajender Nagar, Huaz Khas, Naraina, Model Town, Laxmi Nagar, Patparganj, Naveen Shahdara, Alipur, Nangloi Wazirpur, Karampura, Tilak Nagar, Kingsway Camp and Amar Colony.
In all, according to the MCD, there are 3.2 million illegal constructions in the capital and it is expected that a Central panel would appointed to assess which constructions can be regularised.
ANI