Central govt files response in the sealing of illegal premises

New Delhi, July 24 (UNI) The Centre today informed the Supreme Court that the Delhi Laws (special provisions) Act, 2006 was enacted in larger public interest, keeping in view the ground realities of the national capital.

The government has also pleaded that the Parliament was competent to enact such a law as the master plan in Delhi calls for overhauling. Moreover land and law and order in Delhi is the responsibility of the Centre.

Today was the last day for filing the reply as per the directions of the Supreme Court dated July 17, 2006.

An angry Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal had told the Central government that prima facie the impugned act, putting one year's moratorium against removal of unauthorised constructions in Delhi and against sealing of commercial premises operating from residential areas of the national capital, was wholly ''invalid and void'' and it was pure and simple attempt to overwrite the orders of this court.

The matter is to come up for further hearing on July 31, 2006.

The Centre has also accepted the Tejinder Khanna committee report recomending drastic amendment in the city's present master plan which has virtually been thrown to winds by those indulging in encroachment on public land as well as in raising unauthorised construction in the city.

The government seeks to sort out the problem of illegal constructions as well as slum dwellers including jugghi-jhopadi clusters spread all over the city.

The court shall also consider on July 31 the question of staying the operation of the impugned act till the final disposal of the present petitions.

Subsequent to the enactment of the act, all premises sealed under the Supreme Court orders have since been desealed.

The Supreme Court has also taken serious view of the fact that those who had given affidavits of undertaking in the court saying that they would stop the misuse of the premises by June 30, 2006 were not complying with their undertaking.

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