SC favoured stopping the pratice of giving advance notice for sealing properties

In order to streamline the sealing drive against residential properties being misused for commercial purposes and to quicken the process, the Supreme Court favoured doing away with the present practice of serving advance notice to offenders so that the premises could be sealed within two days.

The court said a person should be given just 48 hours to show sanction has been granted from authorities for commercial operations, failing which the premises should be sealed without advance notice.

The suggestion was opposed by the Centre and the Delhi Development Authority, but they had to face the court’s ire.


The SC said Delhi was in a mess because of DDA and municipal bodies, adding they had connived with offenders over the years and shut their eyes towards illegal construction and misuse of residential premises. The court had said in 2006 that corruption was rampant and authorities were conniving with offenders. The state of affairs continued, the court said on Thursday, and sought a clear stand on Friday when it would pass its order.