Over 80% marriage palaces in Amritsar ‘illegal’; sealing on
Of the 86 marriage palaces in city, 71 illegal; 30 already sealed
AMRITSAR: Ahead of the wedding season, Municipal Corporation of Amritsar (MCA) is on the job to seal as many as 71 ‘illegal’ marriage palaces in the city. The action is being taken on the high court’s order.
The properties violate rules of different nature.
Since Tuesday, 30 properties have been sealed by the civic body with the help of district administration and the police. The MC will have to seal the rest by August 1 as per the court’s order.
In its fresh order, the court has directed deputy commissioner, MC commissioner and principal secretary (local bodies) to appear before it with the action taken report, failing which they face arrest for contempt.
Owners of the marriage palaces met MC officials on Wednesday at Ram Bagh Garden. Mayor Bakhshi Ram Arora and commissioner Sonali Giri, who were present in the meeting, told the owners that court orders had to be implemented at all costs.
The mayor reportedly told the owners that they should approach the high court for relaxation.
On Tuesday evening, the town planning wing of the civic body sealed as many as 10 properties on Tarn Taran Road, 100 Foot Road, Batala Road and Chabhal Road. On Wednesday, 20 palaces were sealed. THE CASE
In 2010, a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, alleging that marriage palaces have been established illegally in the city.
In 2012, the court issued notice to the civic body to take action against the violators. The owners, however, didn’t respond to the MC notices, which asked them to do the needful to get the properties regualrised.
In 2013, the complainant filed contempt case against the administration. The MC issued notices again to the owners in 2014, but only 15 of 86 palaces did the needful to conform with the norms, sources said.
We had sent notices to marriage palace owners twice and they didn’t bother to approach us. At this stage, we are helpless and sealing is the only option. BAKHSHI RAM ARORA, Amritsar mayor