We find no ground whatsoever to modify our order dated September 29, 2006 (sealing of unauthorized shops)

Thus spake a supreme court bench headed by Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal while dismissing the applications filed by MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi), Delhi government and the center.

Sure enough our Supreme Court has better things to attend to than consider what will happen to more than 44,000 traders, their families and everyone else who is directly or indirectly employed by them. Assuming that a shop directly employs just 3 people (a very conservative estimate) and each person has a family of 2 (again very conservative), that’s just about 265 thousand people who will be adversely affected by this judgment. Oh! Just about 0.25% percent of the population. Of course, the fact that a quarter percent of the population will be adversely affected is no grounds for our honorable supreme court to change it opinion.

Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General of the Confederation of All India Traders asks “If I shut my shop, will the Supreme Court or government take care of our livelihood?” Frankly, I don’t know; but I am sure that Justice Y K Sabharwal can answer that. Will you answer that Justice Sabharwal?

Update01: IBN tells me “5.4 lakh shops across Delhi face closure, 27 lakh traders have their livelihoods at risk”. Thats much higher than what I had thought. Still no one (the parliament, the executive or the judiciary) seems to be concerned – ah, the sad fact of our democracy.