Thaindian News

New Delhi, April 8 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Friday gave interim relief to traders of the city’s posh Khan Market, who had challenged in the court the New Delhi Municipal Council’s decision to charge parking fees in the market from next week.

“The civic agency will not charge any money for parking till further order of the court,” said Justice Muralidhar.

The court issued notice to the NDMC seeking their reply on the issue by May 18, when the case will be heard again.

The court also issued notice to the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA), which had directed the NDMC on the implementation of paid parking facility in the market from April 1, which was deferred for a week.

Filing a petition through counsel Sanjiv Sachdeva, the Khan Market Traders’ Association said, “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 with the market,” the traders said.

According to them, paid parking would encourage parking mafias.

Parking at the market has been free for the last 60 years. The tender for the paid parking has been awarded to a private company.

The traders have also sought a court order to quash the NDMC’s decision awarding the tender to a private company to run the paid parking system.