Congress’ Maken meets SC panel members, seeks suspension of sealing drive

Congress leaders from Delhi met members of the SC panel to seek suspension of ongoing sealing drive

Congress leaders from Delhi on Wednesday met members of the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee on whose directions shops are being sealed in the Capital for allegedly violating civic rules.

DPCC chief Ajay Maken said the action against the properties for alleged violation of civic norms was ‘illegal’. (Sonu Mehta/HT PHOTO)

Seeking immediate suspension of the drive, a delegation led by its local unit chief Ajay Maken gave a presentation on the Master Plan of Delhi (MPD) 2021.

Citing provisions of the document, Maken said the action against the properties for alleged violation of civic norms was ‘illegal’.

“We are hopeful that no sealing in special areas and village abadi areas of Delhi will take place,” he said after the meeting with the monitoring committee members.

Maken had on Tuesday sought an appointment with the committee to present his legal stand for halting the sealing drive.

Prominent markets such as Connaught Place, Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh, Kamla Nagar, Khan Market, South Extension, Greater Kailash, Lajpat Nagar, Defence Colony, Green Park, Rajouri Garden and Tilak Nagar are likely to remain closed on February 2 and 3. (Burhaan Kinu/HT PHOTO)

Maken had said he may approach the Supreme Court if need be. “If the monitoring committee does not listen to me, I will move the Supreme Court to make my submissions.”

Several commercial establishments in Delhi have been sealed by the BJP-ruled civic bodies for failing to deposit conversion charges according to provisions in the master plan.

Maken said additional floor area ratio and basements should be permitted to be used for commercial purposes in ‘local shopping centres’, without owners having to pay conversion charge because there was provision in law for it.

Sealing cannot happen in markets that existed before 1962, including Chandni Chowk, Paharganj, Shahdara Town and Sadar Bazar, because the law permits them to use their premises for commercial use without any documentary proof, he claimed.

Maken’s comments came a day after Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the Delhi Development Authority was in the process of amending the master plan to provide relief to the traders affected by the sealing drive.