NEW DELHI: The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court of its revised stand that the Super Bazar building in Connaught Place would be demolished and reconstructed to earn more revenue.

The NDMC stated this in its affidavit before a Bench of Justice B. P. Singh and Justice Altamas Kabir, hearing petitions filed by 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.

The NDMC, however, withdrew the affidavit following the displeasure expressed by the Bench over certain portions saying that the Council was not "getting any tax from 80 per cent of the property occupied by the Central Government, the High Court and the Supreme Court, besides residential buildings occupied by Ministers, MPs, Judges and government employees."

Averment

Shocked at the averment, the Bench reminded NDMC counsel Rakesh Khanna, "When the law itself provides that tax would not be levied against them, how could the NDMC make such averments? Your officers have become bold.

They are always bold when they are on the wrong foot. If one or two of them will go behind the bars they will know. Why do you have to mention all this? It is like provoking somebody."

The Bench while asking the NDMC to withdraw the affidavit asked the Director Estate, NDMC, to tender an apology for filing the affidavit.

The NDMC said it was willing to develop the building as a multi-storeyed commercial complex and licence would be given in accordance with the law through fair competition.

Reliance Industries, one of the bidders, had submitted a bid for Rs 288 crores to revive the Super Bazar.

The Bench asked the NDMC to file a fresh affidavit explaining how its proposal to demolish the present Super Bazar building with a view to providing 80,000 square feet could be executed under the present building by-laws.

The Bench posted the matter for further hearing on October 12.

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