Sarojini Nagar market crowd frightening; hundreds could die in stampede: Delhi High Court

After a viral video of a stampede-like situation at the Sarojini Nagar market was brought to its notice, the Delhi High Court termed the situation 'frightening' and threatened government officials with suspension in case of any untoward incident [Kuldeep Singh Sahani & Ors v. Govt of NCT of Delhi and Ors]..A Division Bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh said that the area has already seen a terrorist attack in 2005 and if even a small bomb goes off in the market, hundreds will die not only in the blast but in the resultant stampede as well."The state of affairs is such that Covid or no Covid, it is frightening. There can be a stampede. Even if a small bomb were to go off how many people would die in the area," the Bench asked.As the counsel appearing for the petitioner showed a video of the crowded market, the Court summoned the local Station House Officer (SHO) as well as New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) Enforcement Officer.The officials informed that nearly 80,000 people had visited the market on the concerned day and the footfall is expected to be the same in upcoming days as well.The judges responded that people were flowing like river and that it would fix the responsibility on Police and other officials if even a single person dies because of Covid or stampede.The Bench also expressed its "deep anguish" over non-compliance with its previous orders noting that neither the Delhi Police nor the municipal authorities have taken any action against the shopkeepers or the squatters."We have made it very clear that you will not allow anyone to encroach. If some shopkeeper encroaches do you need our orders to remove them? Is this the order you want? You are saying in that to perform your function you need our order? The SHO as well as NDMC are in gross dereliction of our orders. It is contempt of our orders," the Bench said..The Court, therefore, directed the Delhi Police and the authorities to work out a movement plan to manage the high footfall in the market during the festive season. It also directed the authorities to install poles and chains and delineate the area with paint where squatters can sit. The Bench further ordered that the goods seized from the squatters or shopkeepers will not be handed over to them without the prior permission of the Court .This is not the first time that the High Court has pulled up the authorities for their inaction over the issue of overcrowding and squatting in the Sarojini Nagar area.In October this year, the Court had taken the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to task for its failure to comply with an earlier direction to remove or relocate around 1500-2000 street vendors, unauthorized squatters and hawkers, in excess of the holding capacity of the Sarojini Nagar Market.The Police and NDMC were ordered to ensure that all the illegal encroachers and their goods are removed and cleared by the end of the day.