Government plans to bring in ordinance to stop sealing

The government is considering announcing an ordinance before December 31 to prevent sealing of shops and showrooms in residential areas in the capital.

The government is considering announcing an ordinance before December 31 to prevent sealing of shops and showrooms in residential areas in the capital.

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"There was an ordinance to this effect and we are considering to extend it," said urban development minister S. Jaipal Reddy on the sidelines of a function on Monday.

The Delhi Laws (Special Provision) Act, 2009, which provided immunity to such shops from sealing and demolition, expires on December 31 after which they would come under the MCD axe.

"There is a need to protect them. We will seek cabinet approval to bring in an ordinance for it so that the stay on sealing is extended," Reddy said.

Shops in residential areas across the city were sealed and later de-sealed by the MCD in the last two years.

The UD Ministry failed to bring in a bill in the parliament to extend the moratorium because of pandemonium created by the opposition over the alleged 2G spectrum scam.

According to sources, the only option left with the government now is to bring in an Ordinance before December 31, which officials claim is a lengthy process and might delay the extension.

There are a total of 200 rural villages and 180-odd urbanised villages were commercial activities are being carried out. If the government fails to bring in an Ordinance, shops running in these rural and urbanised villages will be sealed by the MCD.