Delhi sealing: SC grants relief to 18,000 traders

The Supreme Court today gave protection from the sealing drive to over 18,000 traders and professionals who had complied with the undertaking given by them to stop the misuse of residential premises for the commercial activities.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal said that those traders and professionals will be temporarily relieved of their undertakings and will be placed at par with others who were covered under the government's two notifications of September 7 and September 15.

The Court said they will have to comply with the Sept 29 order and will have to file an affidavit by January 31, 2007 that they will vacate the premises if the Delhi Laws (Special Protection Provisions) Act, 2006 and the two notifications were declared invalid.

However, the court said big establishments, who have complied with undertakings, will be allowed to carry out business activities only if they ensure parking provision near their establishments.

The court declined to grant any protection to those who were carrying out business by encroaching public land. The activities on such land must cease forthwith, the bench said.

The court also provided relief to schools operating from residential areas till the current academic session as suggested by the monitoring committee The court directed sealing of the premises of 34 establishments which on the random checking by the monitoring committee was found to have violated the undertaking given by them.