Delhi HC directs police on situation in Chandni Chowk

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday ordered the police to take all necessary steps to prevent further law and order disturbance in the Chandni Chowk area in the wake of a drive to remove illegal encroachments.

A division bench of Justice S. Murlidhar and Justice Vibhu Bakhru asked Delhi Police to file a status report on the situation in Chandni Chowk by Thursday, the next date of hearing.

The drive was undertaken by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation after the March 28 court orders for the removal of illegal encroachments, including illegal religious structures, in Chandni Chowk within two weeks.

The high court's order on Wednesday came after the Chandni Chowk Vyapar Mandal made an urgent mention of the matter before it regarding the situation in the area.

Counsel for the traders' body said an unruly mob indulged in stone-pelting during the NDMC demolition drive and targeted the mandal's general secretary Sanjay Bhargav and his shop.

Describing it as a serious situation, he urged the court to call for records from the police and the civic body and ensure security to Bhargav and his shop, which suffered some damage.

The Delhi Police assured the court that the area additional commissioner of police had been instructed to ensure security of Bhargav and his shop.