SC stays demolition of 500 shops till Jan 12

New Delhi, Feb 1 (UNI) The Supreme Court today stayed the Delhi High Court's order directing the demolition of about 500 shops situated along the Chandnagar road in West Delhi.

A bench comprising Justices B N Agarwal and P P Naolekar fixed the matter for further hearing on January 12.

The impugned High Court judgement was stayed after the matter was taken before the apex court for urgent hearing, as demolition was likely to take place any moment. The shops in the 1.4 km long road from Subhas More to Khayala bus terminal are to be demolished for widening the road.

The MCD, however, in its report has expressed its inability to carry out the demolition as per the orders of the court on the grounds that a gurudwara and a temple which are situated on the road will have to be demolished and it may create law and order problem in the area.

Moreover, according to MCD, approximately Rs 25 to Rs 30 crores will have to be paid as compensation to the property owners of the locality which is not possible on its part due to the financial crunch being faced by the civic body.

According to MCD, there is vacant land on both sides of the 1.4 km long road which can be used for widening the width of the road to 60 ft. But according to the petitioner namely, Residents' Association, all shops in the area are located on public land and are illegal, therefore, they should be removed from the area earmarked for road in the Master Plan.

UNI