Alka Verma-
Published on : September 11, 2021 at 10:45 IST
On Friday, Delhi High Court has ordered South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and Delhi Police to remove the hawkers and vendors from no-hawker no-vendor zone.
In particular, Court asked to ensure that no hawking should take place in Munirka Village’s Rama furniture market.
A Bench comprising Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh stated, “If it is a no hawking, no vending zone, then you have to remove them (hawkers). The executive engineer and the SHO (Station House Officer) should personally ensure that there are no encroachments. If you have to fence the area, you put up a board of “no hawking, no vending.”
The Court also reminded the authorities that it’s their duty to keep the road and pedestrian zone free of any kind of encroachment.
“In our view, it is the bounden duty of the municipal corporation and the Delhi Police to ensure that no encroachment takes place on the road or pedestrian zone,” stated the Bench.
The Court gave all the direction while it was dealing with a petition filed by Munirka Village Residents’ Welfare Association.
According to the petition, the vendors have illegally captured the roads around Munirka Village and near the Munirka Metro station.
In this regard, the Court observed that it is not possible without the support of municipal authorities.
“These people are keeping everyone happy. There is a hafta (protection money) being paid by all of them (hawkers)… It does not happen without that,” stated the Court.
Advocate Meenakshi Kalra, who was representing the petitioner also informed the Court that the hawkers have also drawn illegal power cables from the metro station premises.
The Court said it was not satisfied by the actions taken by power distribution company BSES (Bombay Suburban Electric Supply)’s against this and also said that the authority has only done a “window dressing exercise.”
“Without their (BSES officials) connivance, it would not be possible for anyone to regularly tap into the electricity lines illegally in broad daylight,” the Court said.
On the other hand, Advocate Beenashaw N Soni, representing SDMC argued that the officials have taken time to time action but the hawkers return every time once the action is completed.
At the end, the Court directed the officials to keep the area clean and ensure that no encroachment is taking place.
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