Sealing: Citizens body challenges government notifications

New Delhi, Sep 13 (UNI) Delhi Pradesh Citizen Council today challenged the two government notifications dated July 21 and September seven, 2006, legalising all commercial activities in residential areas of Delhi in its bid to give relief to traders who were facing sealing of their commercial premises in Delhi.

The petitioner has contended that by notifying 1979 roads in the city for permitting mixed land use, the government has made yet another attempt to nullify the orders of the Supreme Court by legalising all illegal commercial activities being carried out by law breakers in the capital.The petition has sought directions to declare the impugned notification dated July 21, 2006 and September nine, 2006 issued by DDA and Union Urban Development Ministry respectively as illegal ultra vires of the Constitution.

The petitioner has made the Centre, Union Urban Development Ministry, MCD, NDMC,DDA and government of NCT of Delhi as respondents.

The petitioner has pleaded that as a result of these two notifications the process of sealing commercial premises operating from residential areas in violation of master plan has once again come to a virtual halt.

The Supreme Court has already made it clear that Delhi laws (Special Provisions) Act 2006 putting one year's moratorium against the sealing of commercial premises operating from residential areas and also against removal of illegal construction in the city was prima facie a piece of legislation which is invalid and void.

The government has time and again received flak from the court for protecting law breakers, encroachers,land mafia and builders in the city.

According to the Supreme Court the Act, which is under challenge in this court was an attempt by the government to upset and nullify the orders of the court for compliance of the law of the land.

The petition is likely to come up for mentioning tomorrow.

UNI AKS/SC MS RP KN1515