Delhi HC pulls up government over hawking plan

It also pointed out that the NDMC TVC includes representatives of small markets but excludes the bigger stakeholders like shopkeepers of Connaught Place, Sarojini Nagar, Khan Market, Janpath, Gole Market, and Bengali

The Delhi high court on Friday pulled up the state government for not preparing the statutory street vending plan, saying that the city’s administration can’t be held at “ransom” by vendors.

The court also questioned the formation of the Town Vending Committee (TVC) for the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) area. (Sanjeev Verma / HT Photo)

The court also questioned the formation of the Town Vending Committee (TVC) for the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) area.

“Please get down to some real work. Enough of politics. Where is the (street vending) plan?... Unfortunately, we are saying with a lot of pain that you people are not acting in the manner the Street Vendors Act was framed. People are taking advantage of it,” said a bench of justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh.

It also pointed out that the NDMC TVC includes representatives of small markets but excludes the bigger stakeholders like shopkeepers of Connaught Place, Sarojini Nagar, Khan Market, Janpath, Gole Market, and Bengali Market.

The court was hearing a plea by the New Delhi Traders Association, through senior advocate Sanjeev Ralli, seeking to strike down the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Scheme, 2019.

Senior advocate Rahul Mehra and standing counsel Santosh Kumar Tripathi, representing the Delhi government, said, “It is festival period... if they are spared for a week, they will be able to earn some money during the festival and help their families... Kindly modify the order (of removal of illegal hawkers and street vendors).”

The court said, “Till the time it is a no hawking zone...you have to implement it. If you have the power to amend the law, do it, but till the time law is there, you have to implement it,” it said.

The matter will now be heard on Saturday.