SC tells NDMC to respond to its suggestion by September 27

New Delhi, Sep 6 (UNI) The Supreme Court today directed NDMC to give its response within three weeks to the court's suggestion to give four floors of the Super Bazaar building in Connaught Place to a private party and keep the two top floors with it.

A bench comprising Justices B P Singh and Altamas Kabir suggested the parties to have an attitude of give and take, so that super bazaar may be revived.

The super bazaar building was sealed by Chief Fire Officer Delhi on March 31, 2003, for not having adequate fire safety equipment and is lying sealed since then.

The NDMC is seeking eviction of the occupants on the grounds of subletting, and according to NDMC, rent arrears of over Rs 45 crores were also outstanding against the licensees.

The central government, however, supported the private players and contended before the court that the land was allotted to NDMC, only for the purpose of running a super bazaar, and if, it was put to any other use, the central government may resume the land.

Mr Rakesh Khanna, counsel for NDMC was however, opposed to the idea of giving four floors to the private players and said that NDMC can give only two floors to the private bidders as it was going to redevelop the complex into a multi-storeyed commercial complex keeping in view the 2010 Commonwealth games to be held in New Delhi and also for the purpose of 2016 Olympic games.

The NDMC counsel also contended that the licensees were charging rent by subletting at a much higher rate, which they were paying to NDMC.

According to their affidavit NDMC was getting Rs 1,87,500 as rent per month while the current market rent is 78,74,538 per month.

The bidders are prepared to renovate the entire complex on their own while the NDMC wants to carry out the renovation work on its own.

The Supreme Court today directed that the super bazaar building shall not be demolished and the NDMC would come out with its response to the suggestion of this court by the next date of hearing, which is September 27.

The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by Super Bazaar Karamchari Dalit Sangh (SBKDS), seeking revival of the super bazaar on the grounds that the livelihood of over one thousand employees was at stake.

UNI AKS/SC AD AT KN1718