New Delhi. The Supreme Court on Friday categorically refused to hear immediately the petition filed against the order of closure of Central Park at Connaught Place by the Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) in view of the proposed protest by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). However, the court has expressed hope that all the parties concerned will act wisely and maturely in this matter.
Court comments on business and livelihood concerns
A division bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, while hearing the petition, said that they are fully aware that during the festive season, this is the main earning time for small shopkeepers. The bench remarked that it is fully aware of the serious difficulties and problems that businessmen and their families may have to face due to the closure of the park. Justice Bagchi said that in this entire case, the constitutional right to protest, the proposal to sell peanuts in the park and all the aspects related to the security of law and order are deeply interconnected. The court made it clear that if the steps taken by the administration are found excessive or unreasonable, the court reserves full power to intervene under public law and compensation law. The Supreme Court has indicated that this petition may be listed for hearing on October 26 or 27.
Argument of the petitioners – There will be a loss of two hundred crores daily
During the hearing, advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, appearing for the petitioner, while presenting the petition on behalf of Delhi Grocery Committee and Delhi Iron and Hardware Merchants Association, told the court that NDMC has issued an order last night to completely close the Central Park, making it impossible to do business there. He argued that due to such closure of the market right on the cusp of the festive season, a huge trade worth Rs 200 crore is being affected every day.
CJP’s protest and call for tricolor march
It is noteworthy that Abhijeet Deepke of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) had appealed to the people to gather with the national flag in the Central Park of Connaught Place, the main commercial center of Delhi, on Friday. CJP has also alleged that their organization members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been detained for the purpose of hoisting the tricolor, against which this demonstration was called.
