The Hindu : New Delhi News : Govt. supports traders, to file review petition

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Friday, Oct 06, 2006
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New Delhi

Govt. supports traders, to file review petition

Sujay Mehdudia

`It is not possible to comply with the directions of the court'

NEW DELHI: Indicating a hardening of stand, the Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Thursday decided to file a review petition in the Supreme Court seeking modification of the September 29 order with the plea that it would not be possible for the Government to comply with directions pertaining to putting a bar on notification of new roads and areas under mixed land and commercial use and filing of affidavits by traders covered under the September 7 notification.

It was also decided that the Union Government would support the nearly 45,000 traders who face sealing from October 31 before the Supreme Court whenever their case comes up for hearing.

Sources said the Union Urban Development Ministry informed the GoM that it was "not satisfied" with the latest court order and therefore the best possible approach was that a review petition should be filed in the court. It was informed the Urban Development Ministry had sought legal opinion from the Union Law and Justice Ministry on filing a review petition in the apex court and had got the go ahead. The general view at the meeting was that the Ministry should seek a review of the court order putting a bar on the Ministry to notify new roads and areas under the mixed land and commercial use.

It was also felt that it would not be possible to comply with the directions to the nearly five lakh traders covered under the September 7 notification of the Ministry and subsequent notification by the Delhi Government notifying 2,200 roads for mixed land and commercial use to file affidavits before November 10 swearing to comply with the final orders of the court. "There was a general consensus that modification of the court orders should be sought on these two points and if the traders decide to approach the court with regard to the October 31 sealing order, the Government would support their stand," sources said.

Briefing newsmen after the GoM meeting, Union Minister Kapil Sibal said the consequences of the Supreme Court order were studied by the GoM and it was felt appropriate steps should be taken to resolve the issues faced by the people of Delhi in an amicable manner keeping in mind the ground realities.

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