The Hindu : New Delhi News : Supreme Court’s stand on de-sealing hailed

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Supreme Court’s stand on de-sealing hailed

Staff Reporter

‘MCD receives 900 applications for de-sealing’

‘We would demand an amendment to the Master Plan for Delhi-2021’
‘All Bharatiya Janata Party councillors will participate in a rally on February 16’

NEW DELHI: Appearing increasingly like a ghost that refuses to be exorcised, the sealing issue was once again the focus of discussions at a meeting of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi Standing Committee on Wednesday.

Apprising the gathering of the Supreme Court hearing, Additional Commissioner Naresh Kumar said the Court-appointed Monitoring Committee had complained against the MCD stating that while other local bodies (DDA, NDMC) had been a stickler for its no-de-sealing directive, the civic body had gone ahead with de-sealing. “However, the Supreme Court vindicated the MCD’s stand and gave the de-sealing process a go-ahead,” he added.

Mr. Kumar also said the civic body had received around 900 applications for de-sealing of which 196 were from the Capital’s South Zone, 242 from Shahadra (North) and 69 from Central Zone. Information about the other zones was being worked out.

While welcoming the Supreme Court’s support, MCD Standing Committee Chairman Vijender Gupta came down heavily against the Monitoring Committee’s reported decision to levy a 10-fold penalty on establishments before de-sealing them.

“The penalty is irrelevant. There should be no penalty on those who have filed an affidavit because sealed establishments are well within their rights to seek de-sealing after following the correct procedure. We will also file an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating the Monitoring Committee’s penchant for imposing the uncalled for 10-fold penalty,” he added.

At a press conference later, Mr. Gupta and Leader of the House Subhash Arya said they would demand an amendment to the Master Plan for Delhi-2021 instead of just a moratorium on sealing for one year.

“All Bharatiya Janata Party councillors will participate in a rally on February 16 that will proceed from Town Hall to the Union Urban Development Minister’s office. A memorandum will also be handed over to the Minister for bringing out a one-time amnesty scheme after amending the Master Plan. Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Vijay Kumar Malhotra and Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan will also participate in the rally,” said Mr. Arya.

According to Mr. Gupta, the Government notification envisaged a moratorium on sealing and demolition only up to December 31, 2008, and was brought in to gain political mileage before the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.

“The properties to be de-sealed under the notification are mostly those under the DDA. Moreover, the notification did not cover colonies of DDA and unauthorised regularised colonies which is creating confusing situation among citizens,” he added.

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