Delhi High Court To Form Committee To Monitor Illegal Activities And Deficiencies In Chandni Chowk Area

The Delhi High Court today said that it will form an Oversight Committee to monitor and remove the deficiencies and illegal activities in city's Chandni Chowk and surrounding areas.

A division bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia orally observed,

"...authorities are also not moving as they ought to...as we had proposed earlier, we'll form a Committee...what we propose is, we'll form a Committee and all the Departments, including the MCD shall report to the Committee...we'll call for reports from the Committee...and perhaps let's hope things will start moving now...otherwise it becomes difficult for the court to monitor all this."

The Court was dealing with a PIL filed by Chandani Chowk Sarv Vyapar Mandal seeking directions on the city authorities to ensure that all the damage and illegal activities in the area is removed in a time bound manner.

The Court had disposed of a similar matter in November 2023, but soon thereafter situation worsened and the traders again approached the High Court in 2024. 

During the hearing today, counsel appearing for the traders put forward numerous issues persistent in the area, including plying of unregulated rickshaws, illegal hawking and squatting despite it being no vending zone, damaging of infrastructure, illegal parking, vehicular movement restrictions being violated, loading and unloading violations, dangerous scramble crossing at Red Fort traffic junction, homeless people occupying area the, waste mismanagement, etc.

He suggested that a competent private facility management company is needed for the upkeep of Chandni Chowk main road and maintenance of infrastructure and sanitation. The counsel further suggested imposition of heavy penalties for dumping construction and demolition waste or municipal waste and garbage in open.

He also sought steps for regular removal of solid municipal and garbage waste every 3 hours and continuous cleaning of walkways and footpaths, given the heavy footfall in the area.

For enforcement of traffic restrictions banning vehicle movement between 9am - 9pm, the counsel suggested that vehicles found playing during restriction hours should be impounded and penalty of ₹20,000 already fixed should be imposed; and such vehicle should be released only upon deposit without any deduction or waiver. Further, there should be strict direction that no challan for above violation be settled in Lok Adalat. The counsel also steps for increased parking capacity near the area.

For removal of encroachment, given that Chandni Chowk is a no vending zone, the counsel submitted that the Police has the responsibility to ensure no resurfacing of vendors and for that purpose, CCTV cameras be installed to check and identify any resurfacing.

Counsel appearing for the State authorities at this juncture urged the Court that situation in Chandni Chowk area will be much better if persons working there, shop owners cooperate.

After hearing the parties, the Court orally said that it will form a committee to oversee the progress. It added, "Only worry is there shouldn't be duplicity of roles, one determined by this court...one determined by the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation (established to promote conservation of built and natural heritage)...third by a different Department...Just to avoid conflict of roles we'll form a Committee and everything that has to be envisaged by any particular agency will have to taken to the Committee first. After the nod by Commitee we'll...there has to be a broader plan and there has to be day to day action...day to day intervention we'll see what all is to be done."

The case will next be taken on February 24.

Case Title: CHANDANI CHOWK SARV VYAPAR MANDAL (REGD.) V/s GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS.

Case No.: W.P.(C)-15842/2024