Fire At Nehru Place Market: High Court Directs Delhi Govt, Police To Earmark Emergency Services Lane For Ambulance, Fire Brigade

The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the Delhi Government and Police to earmark a lane for emergency services like ambulance and fire brigades, to ensure unobstructed movement for them.

The order comes in the suo moto case registered by the Court following a fire incident at a building in the Nehru Place market. 

Earlier, the Bench of Justices Manmohan and Justice Navin Chawla had directed the Delhi Fire Services to conduct a mock drill in the Nehru Place Market, on a working day, for the purpose of identifying shortcomings for the future.

The department thus highlighted the following serious shortcomings:

• None of the vehicle (Fire Engine, Ambulance) could reach to the incident place; 
• Time taken by the various agencies was too high, which indicates that there are significant hindrances due to heavy pedestrian movement, heavy traffic, hawkers and parking problems
  

Accordingly, the Court ordered:

"Respondents are directed to earmark a lane for emergency services so that the fire brigade and ambulance can reach Nehru Place at the earliest without any hindrance/obstruction. DCP (Traffic) will ensure that the said lane is not encroached upon and is always free for movement for fire brigade and ambulance."

It also directed the DDA, Delhi Police and SDMC to ensure that the recommendations and suggestions given by the Delhi Fire Brigade are implemented at the earliest.

"This Court directs SDMC, DDA and Delhi Police to ensure that no other individual or entity other than 95 vendors, hawk in and around Nehru Place. Even the identities of the 95 vendors shall be verified and the respondents shall ensure that the vendors comply with the terms and conditions of Tehbazari/vending," the Court added.

The bench also directed Advocates Arjun Pant, Sanjay Lao and Divya Prakash Pande along with members of the committee including Chief Engineer Project, Additional CP (Traffic), Additional CP, South-East and Deputy Commissioner, Central Zone to visit Nehru Place within the next fortnight and file a status report in the matter.

"The said report shall be filed at least a week prior to the next date of hearing.Ms. Sakshi Popli, Advocate appearing on behalf of Delhi Jal Board is also directed to file a status report within two weeks," the Court said.

The matter will now be heard on November 10.

Earlier, the Court had also directed the Delhi Police and the South Delhi Municipal Corporation to ensure no hawking and vending policy on a daily basis. It had also directed them to hold a joint meeting and file status reports with regard to the implementation of the no-hawking no-vending policy before the next date of hearing.

"The enormity of the problem caused by the hawkers and vendors at the Nehru Place area can be seen from a video circulated on social media which shows that it was difficult for the fire tenders to access the building where the fire broke out. It also shows the complete lack of any cleanliness or maintenance on the part of the Municipal Authorities," the Court had said.

It was found by the Court that the hawkers and vendors had claimed the pavement space which was meant for circulation of pedestrians. Reliance was also placed on a video circulated on social media showing that it was difficult for the fire tenders to access the building where the fire broke out. 

Case Title: COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION v. GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI AND ORS

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