Reuters AlertNet Lite - Indian court refuses to stop closing Delhi shops

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Indian court refuses to stop closing Delhi shops

06 Nov 2006 09:39:16 GMT
Source: Reuters

NEW DELHI, Nov 6 (Reuters) - India's Supreme Court on Monday rejected a government petition to allow thousands of illegal shops to continue doing business in New Delhi and ordered that a drive to close them resume immediately. The court-ordered drive to close about 40,000 shops operating illegally in residential areas in the Indian capital led to violent protests and shut down markets and businesses for three days last week.

Traders hit by the drive burned and stoned buses and blocked traffic, forcing the government to seek a respite from the court until Dec. 31. At least three people were killed during similar protests in September.

But the country's highest court said it would not bow to pressure.

"No one can be permitted to place a dagger at the government's neck and seek relief. No one can be permitted to hold the city and its law-abiding citizens to ransom," Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal and judge C.K. Thakker said.

The court would not give any more time to the illegal shops and they could either close down on their own or get shut by Delhi's city authorities, they said in their order.

"We find no ground whatever to modify our order. It is the obligation of governments to ensure compliance of the orders of this court," they added.

The civic clean-up began earlier this year after the Supreme Court said shops on at least 2,000 city roads passing through residential areas were illegal and should be closed.

About 40,000 traders were told to vacate their premises by the end of October or face having them closed.

For over a year now, the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court have been hearing petitions on illegal constructions and unlawful commercial activities in the city of 14 million people where laws are known to have been broken brazenly.

Many traders accuse city authorities of turning a blind eye, in return for bribes, when they started setting up their businesses and argue that it was now unfair to close them as it would leave tens of thousands unemployed.

Critics have also argued that many of the officials accused of taking bribes have escaped unscathed.

The central government called an emergency meeting of ministers over the order while traders said they could go on strike again.

"Now our fight is with the central government and Delhi government," said Praveen Khandelwal of the Confederation of All India Traders, which has been leading the strike.

"We want to know from the central government and the Delhi government and all responsible people whether the law is more important than the livelihood of seven million people," he told reporters. "Our struggle will continue."

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Last updated:Mon Nov 6 09:41:21 2006