The Union Government has extended the National Capital Territory (Special Provisions) Act for further three years accepting the demand of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) giving protection from sealing to about 3 lakh traders of Delhi and protecting employment of about 10 lakh workers engaged with traders. This law will be in force through an ordinance by a gazette notification already assented by the President.
CAIT National President B C Bhartia & Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Urban Development Minister Hardeep Puri, for understanding the plight of the traders who are facing onslaught from sealing since past 14 years which has also devastated the business of Delhi to a great extent.
Khandelwal had met Union Minister Puri in October last and requested to extend this law. Puri had assured that the Central Government is continuously making all efforts to bring several relief to Delhi traders from sealing and demolition. Khandelwal has urged that in order to give permanent relief to traders of Delhi from the sealing, the Government should grant an Amnesty Scheme to condone whatever wrong has committed in past years. We have seen that setting right the past has generated more controversies and hell of problems to the traders. Now it is the time to give general Amnesty to traders to ensure better Delhi in the future. As soon as the Government takes a decision of Amnesty Scheme, the CAIT has already drafted a memorandum containing brief points of the issues which may be covered under Amnesty Scheme.
The National Capital Territory of Delhi Law (Special Provisions) Act was first enacted in 2011, which was extended by the Modi government in 2024 till the year 2017, which expires on 31 December 2020. This act protect from any action of sealing to the encroachment in slums, unauthorized colonies, village Abadi area (including urban villages), farm houses and construction done by them, schools, dispensaries, religious institutions, cultural institutions, Godowns built on agricultural land.
