Court-appointed Monitoring committee on sealing submits report

New Delhi, May 4 (UNI) The Monitoring Committee, appointed by the Supreme Court to go into all the issues related to commercial units in residential areas, today submitted its report to the Court.

The report of the Committee, comprising of Mr Bhure Lal, KJ Rao and Colonel SP Jhingan, was presented in a sealed cover to the Court today.

A result of the extensive meetings that the committee held over the last few days with the representatives of the Urban Development Ministry, the Residents Welfare associations (RWAs) and the traders, the report will form a basis for the Apex Court to decide, in its hearing tomorrow, on the Centre's plea to put a six months moratorium on sealing.

Hearing the plea by the Centre to put a six-month moratorium on the sealing operation, the Supreme Court on April 28 asked the monitoring committee to file its report by May 4 about the nine zones in the capital including Rohini where there was no zonal plan.

During their meeting with the Monitoring Committee on May 2, the RWAs from various areas of Delhi strongly opposed the setting up of commercial complexes in residential areas and said that the introduction of any law to regularise such complexes would constitute a breach of trust by the Government.

The majority of RWAs demanded ban on commercial use of residential premises.

The traders, however, opposed sealing of commercial units saying the livelihood of thousands of businessmen was involved.

The traders demanded that the sealing drive be suspended keeping in view the principle of natural justice and giving due cognizance to the humanitarian aspect of the issue.

Addressing newspersons on May 2, chairman of the monitoring committee K J Rao said the committee had heard the suggestions of various parties on the issue and all useful suggestions would be incorporated in its report.

UNI AR MSJ VC1713