The Hindu : Front Page : Court says `no' to demolition of Super Bazar building in Delhi

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Thursday, Sep 07, 2006

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Court says `no' to demolition of Super Bazar building in Delhi

J. Venkatesan

It can only be renovated and modernized, directs Supreme Court

THIS WAY TO SUPER BAZAR: The entrance to the building in Connaught Place. PHOTO: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday made it clear to the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) that the Super Bazar building in Connaught Place here should not be demolished; it could only be renovated and modernised.

A Bench of Justice B. P. Singh and Justice Altamas Kabir was responding to a proposal from the NDMC that it wanted to construct a multi-storeyed commercial complex, keeping in view the 2010 Commonwealth Games to be held in the Capital. The Bench is hearing petitions filed by the Super Bazar Karamchari Dalit Sangh (SBKDS) and others for revival of the Super Bazar on the ground that the livelihood of over 1,000 employees was at stake.

NDMC counsel Rakesh Khanna told the Bench that the Super Bazar building was badly damaged and sealed by the Fire Service Department on March 31, 2003, for not adhering to fire safety norms. The building was still under the possession of the occupants and arrears of rent amounting to about Rs. 45 crore were due from them. The property was, therefore, to be re-developed as a multi-storeyed commercial complex and thereafter made available to prospective licensees.

Additional Solicitor-General Amarendra Saran, appearing for the Union Government, submitted that the land that was meant for a Super Bazar could not be used for any other purpose. Supporting the stand of the proposed bidders, he said the building could not be demolished; it could only be renovated. If any alteration was made to the structure, the Government could resume the land.

On behalf of the bidders, it was submitted that they were prepared to renovate the entire complex on their own, while the NDMC wanted to carry out the renovation work on its own.

In the light of this submission, the Bench asked the NDMC not to go ahead with its proposal to have a commercial complex. It asked the NDMC to give its response within three weeks to the suggestion to give four floors of the building to a private party and keep the two top floors with it.

It suggested to the parties to have an attitude of give-and-take with a view to reviving the Super Bazar and directed listing of the matter for further hearing on September 27.

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