Monday, September 25 2006 11:24 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: A day ahead of a crucial hearing on the sealing issue in the Supreme Court, traders and RWAs of the capital today joined hands in the matter and submitted an appeal to Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal seeking relief from 'chaos and uncertainty'.

The traders, meanwhile, also held a 'Mahapanchayat' demanding from the government that the sealing drive be stopped and the shops that have been so far be allowed to re-open especially in view of the onset of the festival season.

In their petition to the Chief Justice, the traders and RWAs requested that directives be issued to Delhi Government and the concerned ministry at the Centre to act in concert and provide a viable solution to the paucity of space, commercial as well as residential.



They also urged that circumstances be created to enable residents, traders and practitioners of other trades to shift in an orderly fashion to such spaces.

The petition asked for a committee to be constituted by the Government under the supervision of the court to assess and propose practical, time-bound and phased solution to the sealing issue.

"Until such time the committee proposes a plan, citizens of Delhi may be given immediate relief from the chaos and uncertainty that has gripped the city and its residents," it said.

"We do not see any clash of interests. The solution lies between the two truths -- the court is right and so are the affected communities," said Sanjay Kaul, President of the advocacy group People's Action that includes its RWA member URJA.