Operate from residential areas at your own risk: SC

New Delhi, July 17 (UNI) The case relating to the sealing of commercial premises operating from residential areas of Delhi today took a new turn when the Supreme Court made it clear that those not complying with the undertakings given to the court to stop the practice by June 30 will be doing so at their own peril.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice C K Thakker asked, ''Can the effect of an affidavit filed in a court be taken away by legislation?'' The court also directed the authorities to file details within two weeks, giving names, date of tempering with the seal and filing FIR against such persons.

Meanwhile, BJP MLA from Harinagar Harcharan Balli appeared in-person before the court and prayed that he should be shown video tapes showing him breaking the seals.

The court directed the authorities to give Balli a copy of the video tape showing his involvement in the act flouting the court order by breaking the seal put on the premises under the Supreme Court order.

The court was also not happy by action taken by the MCD against its officials, including engineers whose conduct during the sealing process was found dubious.

The court was informed that one assistant engineer had been dismissed from service and major penalty proceedings have been initiated against the superintending engineer even without suspending him.

The court adjourned the hearing till mid-August.

The Supreme Court during today's proceedings has given ample indication that those who have not stopped misuse interms of affidavits of undertaking filed in the court may be proceeded against for contempt of the Supreme Court.

It may noted here that Supreme Court while granting time till June 30 for closing down commercial establishments operating from residential areas in violation of sanctioned master plan for the national capitital, will be proceeded against for contempt of the court.

UNI AKS/SC SK DS1520