SC to monitor the sealing in Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 7 (UNI) The Supreme Court has decided to monitor the progress of the sealing process in Delhi involving 41,000 odd commercial establishment operating from residential areas in violation of the city's master plan.

The Bench, comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice C K Thakkar, yesterday directed the Monitoring Committee to submit weekly reports in the court giving details of the progress made on the sealing front.

The court directed the Monitoring Committee to file weekly reports in sealed cover directly to the court without giving copy to any party in the case to avoid leakage of the content to the media.

The court said it would issue appropriate direction as and when necessary.

The authorities were yesterday severely reprimanded by the Apex Court reminding them of their constitutional obligation under Art 141 and 144 of the Constitution of India which said that all authorities in the country will act in aid of Supreme Court order and direction.

The Court had dismissed all the four applications filed by the Centre, the Delhi government and two by the MCD seeking extension of time for resumption of the sealing drive.

Describing the attitude of the government as a policy of appeasement, the court made it clear that traders cannot be allowed to hold the National Capital to ransom and nobody can be allowed to put a dagger on the neck of the government to seek relief. The authorities were also directed to use adequate force to ensure the compliance of the order of the court as rule of law is of paramount importance.

The Bench was especially annoyed when the government took the stand that it could not comply with the orders of the court in view of serious law and order problem.

UNI AKS/SC BDP RR BD1147