Saturday, April 09, 2011
The Delhi high court on Friday granted a stay on the New Delhi Municipal Council's (NDMC) decision to levy a vehicle parking fee in Khan Market.
Justice S Muralidhar suspended the council's decision, which was to be implemented from next week, on a plea by Khan Market traders.
During the hearing on the traders' plea, the court was surprised to be informed that NDMC has decided to charge for parking on the basis of an instruction from Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA). The EPCA had advised that this will reduce pollution, according to NDMC. The traders wondered what the co-relation between parking fee and pollution was and assailed the decision on this ground, saying the market had till now been held as an example to be followed as far as free parking was concerned.
Arguing for the traders, counsel Sanjiv Sachdeva alleged that "the NDMC's decision is discriminatory as there are various areas in the NDMC zones where free parking is still permitted".
"The market complex is visited by high-profile clientele comprising diplomats, politicians, judges, high government officials and, as a result, the market is under constant scrutiny with regard to the facility and amenities available," the traders added, protesting against the parking fee move.
HC's attention was also drawn to the fact that till now there is no parking mafia in the upscale market but NDMC's attempt to charge for parking might lead to a mafia mushrooming in the area.
Parking at the market has been free for the past 60 years. The tender for the paid parking has been awarded to a private company. In the petition, the traders also sought an order to quash the civic agency's step awarding the tender to a private company to run the paid parking system.
Original news source http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-09/delhi/29400513_1_parking-fee-free-parking-parking-mafia
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