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| Despite court orders, Red & White Coffee Shop continues to function on Residency Road | | | Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, Jan 28: Despite the recent sealing of illegal establishments in the Srinagar city many such establishments are carrying on with their business. Enforcement agencies seem to be hand in glove with the owners of these establishments and as such no action has been taken against them so far.Chief Enforcement Officer, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Hakeem Aijaz issued a letter to the Ward Officer, Ward number 2 of SMC asking him to seal an illegal coffee shop operating in the State Bank of India (SBI) lane on the Residency Road here in the summer capital. The letter was shot two months back, but as on date the coffee shop continues on with the business.
"May kindly refer my discussions held with regard to the illegal coffee shop (Red & White) running at SBI Lane, Residency Road Srinagar. The land in question is under litigation and the non-applicant has taken advantage of the court order for using the staircase to the upper storey but converted into coffee shop to the disputed building. Subsequently, same has been challenged before the Hon'ble Court of Principal District Judge Srinagar and the said court in its order dated 10/10/2013 has stayed the operation and implementation order dated 28/9/2013. So, the conversion of premises into coffee shop is illegal in the eyes of law and needs immediate action," wrote the Enforcement Officer, SMC in the letter under correspondence number SMC/Enf/18,538-42 dated 27-11-2013. The Enforcement Officer further wrote in the order "So, as per such a situation, the property belongs to the government, you are hereby advised to seal the same under Section 08 of COB Act and submit the complete details viz, name, parentage, photographic evidence, measurements so that accordingly the said coffee shop shall be sealed in view of the court orders on the subject." As no action was taken against the owner of illegal coffee shop, Fairdeal Traders Forum knocked at the doors of the office of Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, G N Qasba in order to seek justice. The Commissioner wrote to Chief Enforcement Officer, SMC and asked him to act fast in the matter. "During the public hearing meeting with members of Fairdeal Traders Forum, we have received a communication, copy of which is enclosed, wherein action has been initiated against delinquent violators. I am directed to request you to take further action in the matter and in case police protection is needed, that shall also be asked for," wrote Senior Private Secretary to Commissioner, SMC. This correspondence was dashed to Chief Enforcement Officer, SMC on 12-12-2013 under correspondence number SMC/PS/COM/3438-39. But despite the lapse of more than one and half months this correspondence too has turned out to be futile with no action being taken against the violator of law. It would be in place to mention here that Red & White coffee shop is being operated by a business group (Khan Brothers) who trace their success to the tremendous inflow of hawala money pumped into the state during the past 23 years of militancy. The business group has publicly stated that nobody is going to harm them since they dictate terms to the Omar Abdullah led coalition government in the state.
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