SC refuses to stop Delhi sealings

SC fixes Nov 6 as next date of hearing on a plea filed by Centre to seek relief for traders from MCD action. Speak up

The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to suspend the sealing of commercial establishments in residential areas and fixed November 6 for hearing the Centre's and the MCD's petitions.

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A bench headed by Justice KG Balakrishnan declined to grant any interim relief vis-a-vis the sealing operations until November 6.

It will then hear the central government's and MCD's petitions seeking permission to stop the sealing, an issue that led to a three-day traders' strike in the Capital resulting in violence in several areas.

Additional Solicitor General Amarendra Saran appeared for the central government while MCD's lawyer was Abhishek Singhvi.

Justice Balakrishnan told the counsel that since another bench headed by the chief justice was seized of the matter, it would not be proper for him to pass any order except posting the applications for hearing on November 6.

Saran told the bench that meanwhile the authorities must be allowed to exercise their administrative discretion on whether to seal the premises or not.

The bench, however, said it could say anything on this matter and it would be open to the authorities to do whatever they want. "We don't want to say anything in this matter," the bench said.