Chandni Chowk Re-Development Work Should Continue And Be Maintained: High Court To Delhi Govt

The Delhi High Court has requested the Delhi Government to ensure that the re-development work of city’s Chandni Chowk is continued and maintained.

A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela disposed of a suo motu PIL registered last year on the basis of a newspaper report concerning various stages of Chandni Chowk’s development and the delay which occurred in its implementation.

“Keeping in view the totality and the circumstances of the case and in the light of various status reports filed from time to time, this Court does not find any reason to continue with the present PIL. However, the State Government is requested to ensure that the re- development work which has been carried out are continued and maintained,” the court said.

The bench noted that the status reports filed from time to time reveal that the Delhi Government and other agencies of the Union Government had certainly taken steps for re-developing the area.

Noting that the entire re-development is for the betterment of the traders of localities, the court said that such traders shall also be free to devise a formula for managing the boom barriers, which are installed at the entrance of the Chandni Chowk, by employing their own people in consultation with the Delhi Police.

“It is expected that the traders associations will take up the responsibility and come forward to assist the authorities in this endeavour,” the court said.

It further said that the Chief Nodal Officer shall also be free to pass the final order in respect of the High Powered Committee constituted by the Court and give an appropriate closure the same.

Counsel for Petitioner: Mr. Sanjeev Ralli Sr. Advocate with Mr. Shubham Yadav, Mr. Mohit Mudgal, Mr. Ravi Kant Yadav and Mr. Chetanya Baweja, Advocates

Counsel for Respondents: Mr. Rishikesh Kumar, ASC, GNCTD with Ms. Sheenu Priya, Mr. Sudhir Kumar Shukla, Mr. Sudhir and Mr. Sumit Choudhary, Advocates; Mr. Manu Chaturvedi, Standing Counsel for MCD; Mr. Anupam Varma, Mr. Nikhil Sharma, Ms. Manu Tiwari and Mr. Aditya Dhingra, Advocates for R-3. Mr. Anuj Aggarwal, ASC, GNCTD with Ms. Arshya Singh, Advocate for R-6; Mr. Ajjay Arora, ASC for Delhi Jal Board

Title: COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION v. SHAHJAHANABAD REDEVLOPMENT CORPORATION (SRDC), GNCTD & ORS.

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 1103

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