‘ Willing to become sealing officer’
Tiwari to SC: Tampered with seal as ‘ symbolic protest’, not disobeyed court
New Delhi, Oct. 1: Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari Monday told the Supreme Court that he had broken the seal of a premises here as a “symbolic protest” against the illegal action of officials of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation ( EDMC) and was willing to accept the role of ‘ sealing officer’ as suggested by the apex court.
He said he was willing to assist in executing the directions with regard to sealing and if the courtmandated monitoring committee was dissolved, he would make the city a “better liveable and lawful place” within four years.
Mr Tiwari, a Member of Parliament from the Northeast Delhi constituency, said he had not “disobeyed” any orders of the apex court.
Mr Tiwari, against whom the apex court has issued a contempt notice for allegedly breaking the seal of a premises which was being run in violation of the Delhi Master Plan, claimed that the monitoring committee and EDMC were misusing the authority of the court by trying to sensationalise the whole issue.
In an affidavit filed in the court, he said that no contempt was committed by him as he has not disobeyed the orders of either the court or the monitoring committee, and EDMC officials had sealed a premises in Gokalpuri area without following “due process of law”. He has also referred to the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws ( Special Provisions) Act 2011, and said that this law extends the protection to unauthorised colonies across the city from sealing and demolition action.
“The deponent ( Mr Tiwari) had broken the EDMC seal as a symbolic protest against the illegal action of the EDMC officials as they carried out the sealing action contrary to the specific provisions of law and also contrary to the principles of natural justice,” he has said in his affidavit.
He added that since the sealing action in the case was not initiated under the orders of the court or under the direction of monitoring committee, no contempt was committed by him.
“It is most respectfully submitted that if this court dismisses/ dissolves the monitoring committee, the deponent ( Mr Tiwari) shall, as a ‘ sealing officer’, make this city a better liveable and lawful place within four years,” he said.