The Supreme Court today lambasted the government for legalising the illegalities perpetuated so far by protecting illegal construction and now letting the traders hold the capital to ransom by their agitation against the sealing drive.
The apex court took strong exception to the protests and 'dharnas' by the traders and pulled up the Centre for protecting them by "holding 186 lakh people of Delhi to ransom".
"These people are saying that we have done something illegal, but please protect us. 'Dharnas' by the traders are admission of their guilt. Innocent people do not go on 'dharnas'. That is why they are doing 'dharnas'. What can be more arbitrary than this," a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said.
"Illegalities have been perpetuated and are now being legalised ... this is destruction," the bench said.
It came down heavily on the government for extending protection to unauthorised constructions, saying it was like telling the whole country that "it is free for all".
The court told Additional Solicitor General (ASG) A N S Nadkrani, appearing for the Centre, that "you have to realise that people of Delhi are important, whether you are Delhi Development Authority (DDA), government, municipal corporation of Delhi (MCDs) or any other agency."
When Nadkarni referred to the written note filed by the Centre today, the court said, "sum and substance of this is that you are not doing anything and will not do anything till 2020. You are doing nothing. Zero from 2006 at least."