Supreme Court stays order prohibiting use of parks for cultural, commercial purposes

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court stayed the order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) prohibiting the use of parks for social, cultural, or commercial purposes. A bench comprising of Justices Indira Banerjee and V Ramasubramanian said that under no circumstances, the use of parks can be permitted for more than 10 days in a month.

The decision has been made in view of a petition filed by the municipal bodies against the NGTs order from February 4.  In February, NGT released an order directing the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to ensure that no parks be utilised for holding any social or commercial functions in the national capital. “Let the DPCC take further mandate action in accordance with the law, in consideration of grievances of the applicants by maintaining vigil and preventing violation of environmental norms,” the NGT statement said.

The panel has released clear directions with regard to the use of parks. Failing to do will result in holding the Executive Engineer (Horticulture) of the Delhi Development Authority and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi accountable for the same.