''Power to de-seal be transferred to MCD Commissioner''

New Delhi, May 10 (UNI) The MCD Standing Committee today demanded that the Supreme Court Monitoring Committee be divested of its power to order de-sealing of properties and the same be transferred to the MCD Commissioner.

''As per the DMC Act, 1957 the power to de-seal lies with the Commissioner of the MCD. The power for acceptance of the affidavit should lie with the Commissioner as per law,'' Standing Committee Chairman Vijender Gupta said.

''It will cut short red-tapism on the part of Monitoring Committee and at the same time provide much needed relief to the property owners whose premises are sealed,'' he added.

He said in its February 16 judgment the Supreme Court had directed the misuse of properties be stopped.

''Most of the property owners could not understand its implications and, therefore, could not stop the misuse. Now, natural justice demands that such property owners be given a chance to follow the Supreme Court's orders,'' he added.

''It is, therefore, necessary that if any property owner/occupier files an affidavit that he will stop misuse of the property, his sealed properties should be de-sealed immediately on permanent basis,'' he said.

Mr Gupta said the MCD is soon going to bring more roads under the ambit of the Notified Roads.

''It has already identified 70 new roads under Commercial and Mixed Land Use. The exercise has already been completed and will be approved by the Standing Committee next week. It will subsequently be sent to Delhi Government for approval,'' he added.

He pointed out that the list of 307 roads is already pending with the Delhi Government for notification.

Mr Gupta demanded that urban villages be treated at par with rural villages.

''The government should clarify its stand on urban villages. It should issue an order treating both urban and rural villages at par,'' he added.

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