Sealing in Delhi: SC monitoring committee refuses to give prior notice

Last week, the standing committee of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation had passed a resolution to give 48 hours notice to traders before a sealing drive in an area.

The Supreme Court-appointed committee monitoring the sealing of illegal commercial establishments in Delhi, clarified on Wednesday that no prior notices will be served to the traders before a sealing drive.

An official seals a basement in Defence Colony Market. Traders have said that despite having revised building plans, the civic officials sealed their premises. They have also been demanding that they be given prior notices before sealing. (HT Photo)

During a joint meeting with the commissioners of the three municipal corporations, vice-chairman of New Delhi Municipal Council and senior officials from the Delhi Development Authority, the monitoring committee also discussed the future course of action and violations in different markets.

“We have ordered sealing action in all zones of municipal corporations from tomorrow without prior intimation. The action will be taken for misusing residential properties for commercial use, non-payment of ‘use conversion charge’ and unauthorised construction,” said a member of the monitoring committee, who did not want to be named.

Last week, the standing committee of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation had passed a resolution to give 48 hours notice to traders before a sealing drive in an area. The decision was taken in reference to the Delhi Municipal Act, 1957, and an order issued by the monitoring committee in 2008 which had a provision for serving such notices before sealing action, said Tilak Raj Kataria, standing committee chairman, north corporation.

“On Wednesday, our commissioner Madhup Vyas, shared the copy of resolution with the monitoring committee members but they refused to accept the demand,” said Kataria.

A monitoring committee member, however, said that no such orders were issued by them in the past.

A South Delhi Municipal Corporation official said that they even requested for carrying the sealing drive after June 30, when the deadline for the conversion scheme (paying use conversion charge at the reduced rate of R 22,274) notified by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on December 30, will get over. “But this request was rejected as well,” said the official.

As per sources, the committee is likely to prepare the list of defaulting officials who allowed unauthorised construction and misuse of properties in past years.