CAIT urges ordinance against Delhi sealing drive

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Tuesday appealed for an ordinance to stop the sealings currently underway and restore due process of law in such matters.

The traders' body has also demanded that the government should notify 351 roads as commercial or mixed land use immediately to provide relief to traders.

In a communication sent to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the CAIT claimed that democratic and due process of law pertaining to sealing of business establishments have not been followed.

Accordingly, the CAIT has demanded either an ordinance be brought to immediately stop the sealings or a special session of the legislative assembly be convened "to pass a Bill imposing moratorium on the sealings".

In its communication, the CAIT said ongoing sealing of business establishments in the city has become a cause of great harassment and victimisation of traders and shall prove to be detrimental to the economy of the state and livelihood of not only traders but of their employees as well.

It further said that the concerned authorities "under the guise of order of Supreme Court, are conducting sealing drive in an arbitrary manner".

"The Court has mandated the Monitoring Committee to look into commercial activities only in residential areas, whereas the Committee, while exceeding its jurisdiction is conducting sealing activities anywhere and everywhere in Delhi," the traders' body added.

The CAIT had carried out a 48-hour 'Delhi Trade Bandh' on February 2-3 over the sealing drive, also demanding the central government to bring in a Bill in Parliament to protect Delhi trade and traders from the sealing drive.

--IANS

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