The Hindu : New Delhi News : Court orders de-sealing of Kapil Dev's property

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 10, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Court orders de-sealing of Kapil Dev's property

Our Staff Reporter

`Join movement against unauthorised construction' `He is an icon and people have great affection and love for him, so he should live by law'

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Monday ordered de-sealing of the property of former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev at Greater Kailash-I in South Delhi.

On a direction by the Court last month, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) had sealed a portion of the property, B-41, alleging that the same was being used for commercial purposes by the former cricketer's wife, Romi Dev.

Last week, Justice Praveen Nandrajog had summoned Kapil Dev in person following filing of a petition by him for de-sealing the particular portion of the property.

Mr. Justice Nandrajog ordered the de-sealing after Kapil Dev through his lawyer, Ravinder Sethi, gave an undertaking to the Court to the effect that he did not have the requisite permission to use the said premises for commercial purposes and it was never misused.

He further assured the Court that he would not in future use it for any purpose other than residential.

However, the Court allowed Kapil Dev to use the said portion of the property for running his office where no public access or dealing would be allowed, the order said.

The Judge also directed the Corporation to file the building plan of the said property showing the area in his occupation.

Earlier, Kapil Dev appeared before the Court at 2 p.m. and through his counsel denied the charge that his wife was running a boutique in the sealed portion of the property.

Taking note of the submission, Mr. Justice Nandrajog observed: "When false allegations were levelled against him (Kapil Dev), he had appeared on television in an interview and asserted that he lived by law. He is an icon and people have great affection and love for him, so he should live by law.''

In response, counsel for Kapil Dev submitted that his client lived by law.

At the end of the hearing, reminding him his social obligations, the Court suggested to Kapil Dev to join the movement initiated by the Residents' Welfare Association of M-Block Greater Kailash-I against the misuse of residential premises for commercial purposes in that colony.

In reply, Kapil Dev submitted that he was ready to lend his hand to any good cause.

The Court is seized of the public interest litigation by the Residents' Welfare Association of M-Block Greater Kailash-I seeking directions to the MCD to take action against alleged unauthorised constructions and misuse of residential premises for commercial use there.

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