New Delhi, April 11 -- The Delhi High Court on Friday permitted restaurants in Khan Market to operate without a no-objection certificate (NOCs) from the fire department, provided they accommodate fewer than 50 guests at any given time, describing the market as Delhi's "shaan" and a heritage commercial hub. A bench of justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav said that while several restaurants are located in the first and second floors, structural constraints meant there is only one feasible entry and exit point for the two floors-a feature that has existed since the market's inception. "The shops in question are situated in one of the Delhi's most prestigious and historically significant commercial areas. It is also a heritage market. It's iconic, unique, architectural culture and character is well established; because of construction constraints the entire market has only one feasible entry and exit point for first and second floor where the restaurants and has remained like this since its existence. It's the shaan of Delhi. We do not want these shops to shut down," the court said. It further added, "The petitioners in order to avoid any complication has undertaken that they will not house more than 50 guests at a given point of time. There does not seem to be any reason to disbelief the petitioner's submissions. In any case if the petitioners are ready and willing to amend by all safety measures, there should be no reason to disallow the petitioners on account of structural constraints."...