HC questions MCD authority to issue licences to set-up shops

New Delhi, Sep 15 (UNI) In the wake of a fire in the Bhagirathi Place market complex in the historic Chandni Chowk area a fortnight ago, the Delhi High Court today questioned the authority of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to issue kiosk and 'tehbazari' (open shops) licences to set up shops on the Diwan Hall Road.

A division bench of acting Chief Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Rekha Sharma asked the MCD to remove the illegal shops and kiosks from the roads so that the areas were accessible to vehicles in case of any eventualities.

Petitioner advocate Arun Khosla, in his petition, alleged that the Diwan Hall Road was about 100 feet wide, but due to encroachments by the shop keepers the accessible raod was now only 18 feet wide.

The MCD had issued licences to about 300 persons for setting up kiosks and tehbazari (open shops) on the road in contravention to the Delhi master plan.

When the fire broke out, the fire tenders could not reach the spot immediately to save crores of rupees worth of materials in the electric market, the petitioner said.

MORE UNI PAT RA KN1942