Delhi HC orders 21 restaurants and bars to be sealed in Hauz Khas Village

Delhi High Court has ordered to seal 21 restaurants and bars in Hauz Khas Village in the southern part of the national capital. The order comes days after the HC called the area 'a ticking bomb.'

The order was issued for all the 21 units which do not have mandatory approvals under the pollution laws, according to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee. 

Since these restaurants did not follow the waste norms and didn't hold the mandatory licences, Delhi Jal Board and BESES Rajdhani the power distribution company has been ordered to disconnect the water and power supply to these restaurants immediately. 

Delhi Pollution Control Committee that oversees the implementation of environmental laws in the national capital, said that these 21 units were monitored and had spotted multiple violations. 

The Sub-Divisonal Magistrate of the south district area has already sealed the shops and the order shall come into force with immediate effect. 

SDM Hauz Khas Ramchandra Shingare, who supervised the sealing exercise, said, "Adequate security arrangement was made for the sealing exercise. No law and order problem was created during the sealing exercise which began in the morning and was concluded towards the evening. Together 21 restaurants were sealed." 

A two-judge bench of the Delhi High Court headed by acting Chief Justice Gitta Mittal had raised some queries on safety an other issues. The government and the restaurant owners did not may heed to the matter. 

The court had also warned the owners that, in case of any unfortunate incident takes place in the area, they will be booked under the civil and criminal liability case and shall not be allowed to escape. 

"The reports of Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service, SDMC and the Delhi Jal Board illustrate that the Hauz Khas Village is a ticking time bomb without essential civic and emergency services," the bench had observed.

Our repeated queries regarding quantum of solid waste (garbage) and sewage generated by these restaurants (pubs, bars and cafes in Hauz Khas Village) evoked no response from either the authorities or the restaurant owners," the court added. 

"The adverse impact on the hygiene and environment so far as the citizenry is concerned thereby, would be insurmountable and irreversible," it also said.

According to the Delhi Police reported to the court, National Security Guard commandos could not reach the village during a mock-drill for a terrorist attack. 

A PIL also alleged that over 120 such restaurants and cafes are running in the South Delhi area without any building plans approval and no certificates.