Delhi sealing: Govt to file 2nd affidavit in SC

In a desperate attempt to sort out the problem over the sealing drive in Delhi, the government will file a second affidavit before the Supreme Court on Friday giving details of the Delhi Masterplan, 2001, and the amendments brought about by it in the document to provide relief to traders.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Home Minister Shivraj Patil and attended by Lt Governor of Delhi B L Joshi and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

Home Secretary V K Duggal and other top officials, including Union Urban Development Secretary Anil Baijal, MCD Commissioner A K Nigam and Additional Solicitor General G E Vahanvati also attended the meeting.

Asked how this affidavit will differ from the earlier one, the sources said, besides giving details, this document is expected to focus on the effect of sealing on the livelihood of lakhs of traders in Delhi.

The high-level meeting is among a series of meetings called by Patil to find a solution to the present crisis in view of the widespread violence in Delhi, which erupted on Thursday.

Four persons were killed, three of them in police firing, and scores of people, including security personnel injured as the traders' bandh against MCD's sealing drive turned violent in many parts of Delhi on Wednesday.

The home minister also met a delegation of traders on the issue.