Date:12/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/12/stories/2006081216570400.htm

New Delhi

Delhi traders, residents meet MPs

Staff Reporter

To seek support for amnesty scheme to condone violations

NEW DELHI: Faced with the prospect of resealing of their properties and demolition of their unauthorised constructions, a large number of traders and residents of Delhi have started approaching Members of Parliament for support in bringing about an amnesty scheme to condone all violations.

Already a section of traders has met MPs for drumming up support. "We are approaching the Prime Minister and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha since this is a matter of honour for Parliament. We are also meeting the MPs as we want the Centre to bring in an amnesty scheme for regularising all the constructions that had come up till December 31, 2005 -- barring the absolutely illegal ones that have come up on government land," said Praveen Khandelwal of the Confederation of All India Traders.

A reason why amnesty is being sought is that the traders believe it to be a "tested law".

"Earlier when the amnesty scheme for income tax had been brought in the form of a voluntary disclosure plan, some had contested it in the Supreme Court, which had declared that the Government was well within its right to come up with such a scheme. So we expect that a similar amnesty scheme can now be brought in for saving the establishments in which lakhs of people are employed," Mr Khandelwal said.