HC clears mess on GK-II roads

Ambika Pandit / TNN / Mar 22, 2006, 00:05 IST

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Tuesday's public notice states that it is being issued as per the directions contained in the judgement passed by HC.

NEW DELHI: The popular cafe right on the bend in the road, the Chinese dinners at that much-frequented eatery, the huge tyre shop at the corner that has brazenly encroached on pavements and the landmark gift shop on the road leading into Greater Kailash-II are likely to disappear after 30 days.
The flower shops and sanitaryware showrooms on the road in front of M-Block market too have to go.The news came on Tuesday in the form of a public notice based on a Delhi High Court order in connection with a case filed by G.K.-II RWA about a year and a half ago.
It left traders shocked. But GK-II RWA general secretary V K Gauba welcomed it as "a step in the right direction".
These roads do not figure on MCD's list of 189 roads that are 80 feet wide and more where sealings are to begin from next week in accordance with the Supreme Court directive.

Tuesday's public notice states that it is being issued as per the directions contained in the judgement passed by the Delhi High Court on February 28 in a specific case.
The notice states, "the owner/occupier should stop misuse of residential premises on their own on both sides of the stretch of the road leading into Greater Kailash Part-II from Savitri Cinema upto the second cut (up to H.No.E-544) on the road on the left."

It also asks shopkeepers to close commercial establishments in M-Block "on the road in front of M-Block market". They are required to file an affidavit in court within 30 days stating that the misuse has been stopped. Otherwise sealing would follow.
MCD officials said the road in front of Savitri Cinema had not been included in the list submitted to Supreme Court as this stretch did not have more than 50% commercialisation.
The M-block road is in fact not even 80 feet wide. Aman Arora, proprietor of Ferns 'n' Petals and Tilestyle located at M-76, was busy consulting his lawyers all day on Tuesday.
"The property papers that I have show that the road is 60 feet wide and not 80 feet. While we are being told to close by the High Court in this case the other shopkeepers on 60 feet roads with more than 50 commercialisation are safe for now under the Supreme Court order," said Arora.
He said he was most likely to sell off the property since they didn't have an association that could put up a united fight.
At Pepper Corn restaurant near Savitri Cinema, an employee said "We have informed the proprietors about the notice and they are returning to Delhi to take stock of things."
Baldev Singh, owner of Kabir Shoppe, a huge car accessories showroom in E- Block near Savitri, was desperate. "We will be on the street if this place closes."
Though most shops in G.K.-II were closed, Tuesday being the weekly off day, Singh had his shop open with the shutters pulled halfway down. "We were sitting here to support the Delhi bandh," he said.

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