Delhi: Khan Market restaurants may be sealed next week
Hit Khan Market this weekend and go the whole hog, as there is a chance of Khan Market restaurants being sealed next week. The Delhi HC yesterday refused to stay the NDMC notice that asked 40+ restaurant owners operating from Khan Market complexes to obtain NOC from fire department by April 20. NDMC officials said next course of action will be decided on Monday.
HC bench asked for individual writ petitions from restaurant owners
NDMC had issued the notice early this month asking the owners to get fire NOCs in order to avoid sealing of premises or/and cancellation of health licenses. Challenging it, Khan Market Welfare Association moved a petition, which was dismissed by the HC bench of acting chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Harishankar. The bench asked for individual writ petitions from the restaurant owners.
'All 40 notices not attached, difficult to gauge all content'
When the association's lawyer argued that the notice was illogical, the bench said it's difficult to gauge if all 40 notices had same content since the association had failed to attach all of them. Delhi HC had asked NDMC to issue these notices after a 2017 petition by Delhi resident Manjeet Singh, who had questioned fire safety preparedness of Khan Market and CP restaurants.
Association president said NDMC issuing notices just a gimmick
President of Khan Market Welfare Association, Anshu Tandon, said that the NDMC notice is just a gimmick by the civic body to show HC that they have complied with the order. "The notice is illegal and we're going to fight it," he said.
