The Delhi High Court today issued a notice to the Centre on a PIL seeking a direction to evolve a new plan of revival of Super Bazaar, the city's first chain of departmental stores.
A division bench of Chief Justice D Murugesan and Justice Jayant Nath issued notices to the ministries of Consumer Affairs, Agriculture through the central registrar, cooperation official liquidator and Writers and Publishers which purchased the Super Bazaar from the government and sought their replies by July 31.
The court's order came on a PIL filed by Ram Gopal Sisodia, an ex-MLA, seeking revival of Super Bazaar which introduced the concept of shopping under one roof at an affordable prices.
Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Prashant Bhushan argued and prayed for quashing of the central government's decision to sell a majority stake of 73 percent in Super Bazaar Cooperative Society to Writers and Publisher which is a private company.
"Quash the order of July 7, 2009 of the central registrar whereby amendments to the bye-laws of the Super Bazaar were allowed by him as the same were de-hors (outside the scope of) the provisions of the Multi State Cooperatives Act, 2002," the PIL said.
The government had in its July, 2009, order sold its 73 percent shares to Writers and Publishers with a condition to revive Super Bazaar in Rs 1.16 crores.
The petition said the rate (Rs. 1.16 crores) at which Super Bazaar was sold to the private company was the rate prevailing in the year 1966 when the society started and it was sold at a less value after the financial irregularities and illegalities were committed by its officials.
