SC provides relief to 18,000 traders

Traders were seen smiling after a long time on Thursday, as the Supreme Court said it would relax the sealing drive.

Nearly 18,000 traders and a1,700 schools benefited from the order as they were told that they could continue their commercial activities till the SC passes a final order.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice YK Sabharwal ruled that traders, who had given undertakings to the monitoring committee that they would stop commercial activity in residential areas, could continue their present operations and will be placed at par with others who were covered under the government’s two controversial notifications of September 7 and September 15.

All commercial units, which fall in the purview of the notifications, will be de-sealed to continue their activities. The SC said that all big stores, who had filed their affidavit will also have to take into account the resident welfare associations’ view and ensure proper parking facility before appealing to the monitoring committee to de-seal their premises.

However, the court empowered the committee to proceed with sealing operations of those businesses not covered by the Sep 7 and 15 notifications allowing continuance of commercial activity in 2,183 roads across the capital. What this means is that areas like the A&B categories, which include some of the posh commercial addresses in the Capital like South Ex, GK, Green Park will not be spared.

The Urban development ministry called the judgment historic and said that they were happy that traders were getting relief.

Meanwhile, 1700 schools in residential areas, catering to eight lakh students, have also been told to continue till May 2007. Many schools, however, are planning to appeal again to the SC that they should not be treated as commercial establishments.