Taking a serious view of the government approaching the State Election Commission on the sealing issue, the Supreme Court on Friday ordered resumption of sealing from March 28 of those unauthorised structures in the capital that do not conform to the Masterplan 2021.
A three-member Bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat, D K Jain and P K Balasubraminiam came down heavily on the government for seeking the SEC's consent to carry out the sealing drive when the apex court was already seized of the matter.
The Bench rejected the repeated pleas of Additional Solicitor General Amarender Saren, who sought postponement of the sealing on the ground that elections to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi are scheduled for April 5.
In fact, the Bench had initially said that the sealing would resume on April 6, but subsequently ordered that it be conducted forthwith after the Amicus Curiae Ranjit Kumar complained that the government had insulted the apex court by seeking the SEC's consent instead of approaching the court for clarifications.
The Amicus Curiae's submission only infuriated the Bench, which ordered forthwith resumption of the sealing.
However, the Additional Solicitor General pleaded that the sealing be deferred to at least till March 27 in view of the Ram Navami celebrations.
Agreeing to the request, the Bench then said sealing would resume on March 28.
However, the Bench said sealing would remain suspended from April 4 to 7 to facilitate the elections and the counting process.