Hyderabad: Expressing anger at shopkeepers for occupying footpaths, the Hyderabad HC refused to remove the seals on 106 shops in Siddiambar Bazaar.
A division bench comprising Acting CJ Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice A. Shankar Narayana was dealing with an interim application moved by shopkeepers on Monday urging it to order the GHMC to remove the seals.
On November 22, the HC had ordered the GHMC to seal the shops as the shopkeepers had violated the undertaking given to court for removing encroachments from the footpath in front of their shops.
The bench ordered sealing of the shops on a petition by Laxminivas Agarwal, a resident of Mahboobgunj, seeking removal of encroachments. The petitioner said the shopkeepers had filed an affidavit making false allegations against him.
Counsel appearing for the shopkeepers told the court that due to the sealing of the shops the shopkeepers had lost their means of livelihood.
Refusing to remove the seals the bench found fault with the shopkeepers for failing to honour the undertaking given to court. The judge said that it was nothing but a mockery of the court.
The bench said, “Footpaths are meant for the public and not for shopkeepers to display articles or to keep showcases.” Directing the petitioners to file an affidavit explaining the reasons for violating the undertaking, the bench adjourned the case to Tuesday.
