Flower Bazaar shops sealed after HC order

According to a CMDA official, as many as 136 wholesale shops were sealed on Badrian Street. “The court had directed us to seal the premises on Tuesday. Although some traders opposed the move, the process went without any major incident, as the police department made adequate security arrangements. We have explained the court order to the traders,” the official said.

Explaining the circumstances that led to the sealing operation, the official said that some wholesale traders in Koyambedu flower market had approached the court to close the shops in Flower Bazaar. “According to Tamil Nadu Specified Commodities Market (Regulation of Location) Act, 1996, all kinds of wholesale shops must function only at a specified location in the city. Koyambedu market was built to handle wholesale trade, it will not be allowed in any other part of the city,” he said.

The wholesale flower shops were functioning in George Town for many decades, much before the opening of Koyambedu wholesale market, and the traders were refusing to close their shops.

Meanwhile, the court also directed the City Police Commissioner to continue patrolling on Badrian Street to prevent the traders from opening the shops again. The court directed the city police to book cases against the individuals opening wholesale shops and prosecute the offenders in accordance with the law.