MCD orders 'desealing' of shops sealed in 2017

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Saturday passed a resolution for immediately de-sealing commercial properties located in Local Shopping Complexes (LSC) that were sealed in 2017-18 on the direction of the Supreme Court appointed monitoring committee for violation of building bylaws.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court appointed judicial committee gave directions to de-seal these shops that have remained shut for the past six years.

The resolution to implement the judicial order immediately was passed at a special meeting of the MCD House on Saturday. The session, however, was marred by slogan shouting by Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillors who blamed the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for delaying the decision on the properties.

When the opposition members continued to shout slogans in the well of the House, mayor Shelly Oberoi prematurely adjourned the House.

Establishments that faced sealing action in December 2017 included around 500 shops in prominent south Delhi markets such as Green Park, Hauz Khas E-block, Greater Kailash 1, D-block South Extension-I, Defence Colony, and Old and New Rajinder Nagar markets.

Citing the judicial committee order, MCD officials said the establishments which are using basements for any other purpose other than storage will have to apply separately for getting their premises desealed. However, they added, that if the basement is being used only as a storage the shop can be desealed immediately, they said.