The Hindu : New Delhi News : Delhi MPs demand law on demolitions, sealing

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Tuesday, Apr 04, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Delhi MPs demand law on demolitions, sealing

Staff Reporter

"High time the Union Government considered this demand seriously, helped in resolving the issue"

UNITED: Members of Parliament from Delhi (from left) Krishna Tirath, Jagdish Tytler, Kapil Sibal, Sajjan Kumar and Sandeep Dikshit addressing a press conference on Monday in connection with the ongoing sealing and demolition drive being conducted in the city on the orders of the High Court of Delhi and the Supreme Court of India. -- Photo: S. Subramanium

NEW DELHI: Stating that they feel incapacitated and inadequate in the absence of a constructive comprehensive solution to the issue of demolitions and sealing going on in the Capital, five sitting Lok Sabha members from Delhi on Monday demanded that an Ordinance or a law be introduced in Parliament immediately to put an end to the present phase of uncertainty for lakhs of people in the Capital.

Addressing a press conference, the MPs -- Kapil Sibal, Jagdish Tytler, Sajjan Kumar, Sandeep Dikshit and Krishna Tirath -- said it was high time the Union Government considered this demand seriously and helped them in resolving this contentious issue that has and will further cause unimaginable damage to the residents of Delhi.

"To stop the spread of panic and with a view to ensuring that further action is taken after a complete study of the situation and a long term strategy in mind, it is our firm belief that either an Ordinance or a law should be introduced in Parliament forthwith to stop the sealing and demolition of various premises for a period of six months, other than perhaps such premises that are built on public and municipal land and ongoing and unauthorised constructions," they said in a joint statement.

`History cannot be effaced'

Interestingly, it was Mr. Sibal who did most of the talking along with former Union Minister Jagdish Tytler. "We believe that more than 55 years of history cannot be effaced by targeting, sealing or demolishing individual structures without making it clear to the people of Delhi the exact nature of unauthorised construction or use of premises whether residential or commercial; making it clear the date after which all premises which are unauthorised or the use of which is contrary to law, which will be targeted, sealed or demolished; the number of structures to be sealed or demolished; the administrative machinery available for carrying out such an exercise and whether prior notice is required before sealing or demolition,'' the joint statement added.

Mr. Sibal said it had become difficult for them to explain to the public why individual habitations of ordinary residents were discriminated against and subjected to sealing. The entire issue, he said, must be dealt with in a cohesive manner keeping in mind the interests of the community and recognising the fact that planned development of Delhi as envisaged under the Master Plan of 1962 and 2001 had not taken place. "Our demand for an Ordinance or a legislation is that during the period of six months, not only the Master Plan of Delhi-2021 would be notified but also zonal plans will be drawn up keeping in mind the needs of the community," he added.

Without directly naming the Bhure Lal Committee appointed by the Supreme Court to oversee the sealing operations, the statement said people did believe that the normal processes of the judicial system should not be supplanted by committees which function like the executive and through whom relief may not be forthcoming.

`Feeling helpless'

"We wish to make it clear that we have the greatest respect for the superior judiciary and we believe that in passing judicial orders they do believe that they have a larger public interest in mind. We are feeling helpless in this situation and in the absence of a comprehensive solution, keeping in mind the community interest, we consider ourselves incapacitated and inadequate," the MPs added.

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