India, June 10 -- Experts and former municipal officials have raised concerns over the Municipal Corporation of Delhi's (MCD) newly relaxed trade licensing regime, arguing that the policy appears to go beyond the civic body's powers by allowing food-related businesses to obtain operating permits even in non-conforming and unplanned areas that fall outside the framework of the Master Plan for Delhi (MPD).

The concerns come days after the deadly Hauz Rani fire, where investigators found that a restaurant was allegedly operating under the cover of a tea-and-snacks licence. Critics say the new regime not only dilutes scrutiny but also shifts responsibility for critical safety requirements almost entirely onto business owners, reducing the ro...