Traders call bandh on Tuesday, SC body says sealing to continue
NEWDELHI: Traders in the city have decided to call a one-day bandh on January 23 against the ongoing sealing drive by the municipal corporation under the supervision of a Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee. The decision was taken during a joint meeting called by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and traders at Constitution Club on Saturday.
Praveen Khandelwal, the national secretary-general of CAIT said, “More than 400 traders from leading markets in the city present in the meeting decided that all markets, including local shopping complexes and wholesale and retails markets will observe a day-long bandh on Tuesday. The sealing drive is
DEVINDER KUMAR SEHRAWAT, Bijwasan MLA
unjustified and against the provisions of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act 1957.”
While traders decided to call for the bandh, members of the monitoring committee, who are overseeing the sealing drive, clarified that the sealing action will continue in full swing on all days including January 25, the day of the Asean summit. “Though the civic authorities are free to carry out sealing drive on alternative days depending on the availability of police force and other arrangements, it is not going to be affected by the Republic Day celebrations,” said a member who didn’t wished to be named.
On Saturday, despite offices being shut, North Delhi Municipal Corporation officials carried out sealing drive in local markets such as Vijay Nagar, Outram Lane and Keshavpuram for mis- using residential property for commercial use without paying one-time ‘use conversion charge’.
THREE HELD FOR POSING AS SDM TO TAKE BRIBE
The CBI has arrested three people on the charges of demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹1.80 lakh, allegedly on behalf of a sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) from a club owner to re-open his club which was sealed by the SDM of Saraswati Vihar.
CBI received a complaint from an owner of a club situated at a mall in Pitam Pura that three persons were asking for a bribe of ₹3 lakh to allow his club to reopen. He alleged that after negotiation, the amount was reduced. “The CBI laid a trap and caught the two accused alongwith one more person demanding and accepting a bribe...” CBI said in a statement.