Remove lock, seal in shops at Flower Bazaar: High Court

A division bench comprising Justice K K Sasidharan and Justice R Subramanian on observing whether the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority had initiated similar actions against the shops selling pirated CDs in Burma Bazaar, directed the authorities to remove the seals immediately and permit the vendors to carry on with their business. 

However, bench directed the traders to restrain from using weight stones of more than 2kg in a bid to prevent wholesale trade in the shops, on admitting an appeal moved by the flower vendors. During the hearing, the flower vendors also agreed to withdraw the civil suits they had moved in various courts to thwart CMDA action. 

On October 10, dismissing a batch of pleas moved by the flower vendors, a Justice S M Subramaniam set a 48-hour ultimatum for the flower shops operating from Flower Bazaar near Broadway to shut permanently.

The judge had based his order on the aspect that when the state had framed rules prohibiting wholesale flower sales in the city, except at Koyambedu market, these shops cannot defy the rules and continue business in the guise of pending litigation, perpetually.

Justice Subramaniam on taking congnisance of the complaint that the wholesale traders in the locality were in the habit of breaking open official lock and seal had also directed installation of a police booth near Badrian Street to ensure no further wholesale business, either by petitioners or by others, was allowed.