'Concrete suggestion by BJP to solve sealing issue'

New Delhi, Nov 10: The BJP has suggested an amendment in the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act to take away its power to seal a premises for 'misuse', as way out of the present impasse on sealing of commercial establishments in residential areas of the city.

Briefing mediapersons about the 'concrete suggestion' given by Delhi Pradesh BJP to the Prime Minister in form of a letter yesterday, former union Minister Arun Jaitly said Parliament amended the MCD Act 1957 and Delhi Development Authority Act 1957 in 1985-86 to provide the power of sealing unauthorised constuctions.

However, in its February 16 order the Supreme Court opined that while DDA continued to have power to seal only unauthorised constuctions, MCD could seal premises for commercial misuse in addition to sealing unauthorised constuctions.

This problem could now be rectified by taking away this power to seal a premises for 'misuse', at least temporarily as a transient measure, till town planners were able to decide the number/areas of commercial and retail spaces needed in city as big as Delhi and hammer out an appropriate master plan, he said.

The government and Parliament would be within their competence to bring about such an amendment that would take away the basis of the court's order, he added.

Earlier, the government had unsuccessfully tried to ''overreach'' the court's order and make it ''inoperative'' by its actions, including enacting the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, he alleged.

The government lacked ''state craft'' or the capacity to govern, he claimed.

Speaking on the occasion, Delhi Pradesh BJP President Harsh Vardhan said his party was giving the suggestion to help the government resolve the vaxed problem in greater public interest.

''We not only fight for people's right on the streets, in the legislature and civic bodies but also are ready to positive solutions,'' he said.

Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Jagdish Mukhi said the government should also amend section 345 A of the MCD Act for the sake of parity and uniformity.

''There cannot be different laws for different parts (MCD, DDA and Delhi Cantonment Board/New Delhi Municipal Council areas) of the same city,'' he said.

The party would also petition the President on the issue, he added.

UNI

Related Stories