Supreme Court stays sealing operations till Monday

New Delhi, Feb 8: The Supreme Court today stayed till February 12 the sealing of commercial premises operating from residential areas in the national capital in view of the notification of the Delhi Master Plan 2021 by the Centre last night.

A bench comprising Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice S H Kapadia passed the stay order on the application filed by the MCD seeking deferment of sealing operations till the examination of the new Master Plan by this court was over.

The MCD Counsel mentioned the matter this morning before the court seeking urgent hearing of the application. The court decided to hear the same on February 12.

The MCD has contended that since the new Master Plan has been notified by the Government and the MPD 2021 permits commercial activities from the residential areas, the operation of the order dated September 29, 2006 may be stayed till the new Master Plan is examined by the apex court.

Today's order will provide relief to over three lakh traders of the capital whose commercial establishments are located in residential areas.

As per the order of September 29, 2006, all traders protected by the two notifications dated September 7 and September 15, 2006 were supposed to file affidavits of undertaking latest by January 31 that they would cease commercial activities immediately if the two notifications were invalidated by the court.

Out of about three lakh traders only 50,330 had filed affidavits and the sealing operation against the rest was to resume from February 1.

UNI