Rejecting arguments that the Centre's move to suspend demolition and sealing in Delhi will invite the court's ire, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Saturday said the decision was taken considering "ground realities."
"The court has always held the view that change your laws, nothing should be illegal," Dikshit told NDTV in Delhi.
"(It said) if you want to change the laws considering the ground realities and considering Delhi's growth and practicalities of the implementation of law, change them. Sort them out and we will not (oppose) it," the chief minister added.
She said the court had clearly directed, "If you (the government) go against the existing laws, then the Supreme Court takes a strong view so does the high court."
Asserting that it was a move to give relief to lakhs of people, the chief minister said, "This is done for the people of Delhi. What was happening in 2007 was painful for the people and the government."
According to the Urban Development Ministry order issued on Friday, all notices issued by any local authority for initiating action against encroachment or unauthorised development shall be suspended and no punitive action be taken till December 31, 2008.
"By that time, master plans rules and regularisations will be finalised and we will give them (people) ample time to abide by what the new rules would be," Dikshit added.
The direction which has come as a breather for the Congress-led government in Delhi has drawn flak from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party calling it a "political stunt."
Taking a dig at the BJP, Dikshit, however, said, "If it was a political stunt, we would have done it before the MCD election, which they claim they won because of the sealing and demolition."
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