Challenging the North Delhi Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) policy for tehbazari licence — four traders have moved Delhi High Court seeking directions to civic agencies, fire services and the Delhi Police — to grant them licence for selling fireworks. In a petition, the four Central Delhi shopkeepers have sought directions to the named authorities to grant them temporary tehbazari licence to sell firecrackers from makeshift tin sheds on the footpath alongside Kamla Nehru Park.
“The Municipal Corporations were playing the game of pick and choose as the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) had granted licences to sell firecrackers even in congested areas, while the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) refused to grant any even as they fulfil all guidelines,” the petition filed through advocate Anuj Arora said.
Nagender Kumar, Manoj Madaan, Ramesh Rajpal and Prem moved High Court after NMC refused to give them tehbazari licence citing a communiqué from Delhi Police. The petitioners said they earn their livelihood selling roman candles ahead of Diwali from the makeshift tin sheds on the footpath alongside Kamla Nehru Park, opposite the Subzi Mandi Police Station.
They said after the licence was made mandatory, they are being denied the same even though they fulfil all safety guidelines. The petition is likely to come up for hearing on Monday. Kumar said they had earlier approached High Court in 2010. The Court had then directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to consider their request, following which they were given a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the MCD as well as the Fire Department to sell cherry bombs from the makeshift shed.
However, Delhi Police had denied permission even when they had fulfilled all safety guidelines issued by it. In 2012, Kumar again approached High Court seeking similar relief and was asked to approach the MCD for grant of tehbazari licence. The High Court then directed Delhi Police to consider the request without compromising on the security of citizens.
The petition said despite the High Court order, NMC refused to grant licence, saying there is no such policy for giving away tehbazari licence in view of a communication received by Delhi Police. The petitioner contended that the Delhi Police had itself told Court in 2010 that it did not intend to impose ban on grant of temporary tehbazaris by the MCD and that it did not have any objection to grant temporary tehbazaris for sale of whizbang.