CJP Tiranga Protest | 'If NDMC Order Is Disproportionate, We'll Act' : Supreme Court On Traders' Plea Against Delhi Central Park Shutdown

The National Democratic Management Committee (NDMC) issued an order to close the central park in Delhi, a green space that also houses several small shops and food stalls. Traders who depend on the park for daily sales filed a petition in the Supreme Court, arguing that the shutdown would cause a severe loss of livelihood and that the order was issued without proper notice. The hearing took place on a Monday, with the bench led by Justice J. Bagchi listening to the arguments from both the traders’ counsel and the NDMC representatives.

Justice Bagchi warned that if the court finds the NDMC’s action to be disproportionate or unlawful, the judges are prepared to invoke their powers under the constitutional tort jurisdiction to provide relief to the affected businesses. He emphasized that the loss of income, when proven to be a result of an illegal order, can be remedied through compensation or an injunction that restores the park’s commercial functions. The statement signals that the Supreme Court is willing to scrutinize administrative decisions that have a direct economic impact on small traders, a group that often lacks the resources to challenge government directives.

The case arrives at a time when Delhi’s municipal bodies are under pressure to balance environmental preservation with the needs of informal economies that thrive in public spaces. Legal experts note that a ruling in favor of the traders could set a precedent for future disputes involving the closure of parks, markets, or other communal areas without adequate stakeholder consultation. For readers across India, the outcome may influence how local authorities draft and implement policies that affect livelihoods, especially in densely populated urban centers where public land is a vital source of income for many families.