NEWS | Navneet Kalra’s registration certificate to run 2 restaurants cancelled, police tell Delhi HC
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The registration certificate to run restaurants ‘Khan Chacha’ and ‘Town Hall’ in Khan Market has been cancelled, Delhi Police told the Delhi High Court.
Delhi Police on Friday informed Delhi High Court that the registration certificate to run restaurants ‘Khan Chacha’ and ‘Town Hall’ in upscale Khan Market of businessman Navneet Kalra has been canceled. Kalra is accused of an oxygen concentrator black marketing case.
The court was hearing Kalra’s petition challenging a show-cause notice and order suspending the registration certificate to run the restaurants following his alleged involvement in the case.
Justice Rekha Palli said it will be open to the businessman to assail the cancellation order in accordance with the law, after the police submitted that a decision has been taken by its licensing wing, after giving Kalra an opportunity to be heard.
The court also clarified that it has not expressed any opinion on the claims made in his plea. Kalra had challenged the May 11 order-cum-show-cause notice issued by the joint commissioner of police (licensing) and the subsequent suspension of the registration certificate to run the two eateries in Khan Market. He submitted that the registration certificate was canceled by the authorities by an order dated July 23 and nothing survived in the petition.
In its report filed in court, police said a show-cause notice had been issued to Kalra to explain why his premises were used to store oxygen concentrators. In response, he claimed that the running of the restaurant was his source of livelihood and since premises was lying unused and compelled by financial liabilities he stored the concentrators in good faith and as an act of service to the needy. However, the explanation was not found satisfactory, police said and the licenses were canceled.
The businessman had contended that the suspension was illegal and contrary to the provisions of the Delhi Eating Houses Registration Regulations as it did not confer power of suspension at the stage of issuance of a show-cause notice.
Kalra, who was arrested by Delhi Police in a case of alleged black marketing of oxygen concentrators during the second wave of Covid-19, said that there was no provision to suspend registration certificates merely on the grounds of registration of an FIR.
“The order of suspension is also bad as the recovery of oxygen concentrators made from the restaurant premises is no ground nor is it given as a ground for suspension of license. The order of suspension adversely affects the business, reputation, and livelihood of all employees working in the restaurant,” the plea said.
