46,50,51,54,55,56,59&60 v. Advs.for R-l/SDMC in 1-38

Delhi High Court · 05 May 2015 · 2015:DHC:10981
Vibhu BakhrU
WP(C)No.4368/2015; WP(C)No.4369/2015
2015:DHC:10981
administrative appeal_dismissed Significant

AI Summary

The Court directed constitution and functioning of the Town Vending Committee under the Street Vendors Act, 2014, holding it as the appropriate forum to resolve disputes and denied interim injunctions restraining eviction of street vendors.

Full Text
Translation output
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$-29,35 to 37,39,41 to 43,45,46,49to 51,54to 56,58 to 60.
*
+ WP(Q No.4356/2015. WP(C)No.4368/2015.WP(C)No.4369/2015.
WP(O No.4372 72015 & CM No.7912/2015, WP(C) No. 4374/2015 &
CM No.7914/2015. WP(C)No.4389/2015 & CM Nos.7943-45/2015, WP
(O No.4390 /2015 & CM No.7946/2015, WP(C)No.4393 72015 & CM
No.7950-52/2015, WP(C1 No.4396 72015 & CM No.7958/2015, WP(C1
No.4398 /2015 & CM No.7961/2015, WP (C1 No.4417 72015 & CM
No.8027/2015, WP (C1 No.4419 /2015 & CM No.8030/2015, WP (C1
No.4421 /2015 & CM No.8033/2015, WP (O No.4425 72015 & CM
No.8038/2015, WP (C1 No.4427 72015 & CM No.8041/2015, WP (C1
No.4428 /2015 & CM No.8042/2015, WP (C) No.4433 /2015, WP (C1
No.4434 /2015 & CM No.8049/2015, WP (C1 No.4437/2015 & CM
No.8053/2015
Present:
Mr.Satish Kumar Tripathi, Adv.for Petitioners in 1-29,35,36&58.
^' Mr.Vipin Tyagi,Adv.for Respondent/NDMC in 1-29,35,36,37,39,42,45- 46,49-60.;
Mr.Nawal Kishore,Adv.for SNCTD/Delhi Police in
1-50,54,59,60. , Mr.Anand Shailani,Adv.for Petitioner in 1-37,39,42,45, 46,50,51,54,55,56,59&60.
Ms.Shubhra Parashar,Mr.V.P.S.Charak& Mr.Satish Tiwari, Advs.for R-l/SDMC in 1-38. , ^ Mr.Subodh Kumar,Adv.forR-2in1-39.
Mr.Ashok Kashyap,Adv.for R/SDMC in 1-37.
Ms.Ferida Satarawala,Advs.for R-2/GNCTD in 1-38.
Mr.Rajiv Sharma,Adv.for R-2in 1-37.
Mr.Mohammad Shariq,Adv.for R-2in 1-41.
Mr.Dharmender Sharma,Adv.for Petitioner in I- 41 &43.
Ms.Chanchal Sharma,Adv.for R-2iin 1-42. y- Mr.Ram Narayan Singh,Adv.for Petitioner in 1-49.
CORAM;
HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE VIBHU BAKHRU
2015:DHC:10981
% 05.05.2015
The petitioners have filed the present petitions seeking an injunction restraining the respondents from disturbing the petitioners in carrying on with their respective trades. The petitioners claim to be squatters who are carrying on their respective trades on the streets. This is disputed by the learned counsel for the respondents. The learned counsel for the parties point out that several similar petitions have been considered by this Court and have been disposed ofwith a direction,enabling the petitioners to make representations before the Committee to be constituted under the Street
Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014(hereafter the 'Act)which has come into force w.e.f. 04.03.2014. The learned counsel for the petitioners rely upon one such order passed in
W.P.(C)No.5580/2014,which reads as under:-
"Present writ petitions have been filed seeking a direction to the respondents not to obstruct or disturb the petitioners in carrying on their trade from their respective sites till the Town
Vending Committee of NDMC issues certificate of vending to the petitioners in accordance with Section 3(3) of the Street
Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street
Vending)Act,2014(hereinafter referred to as'Act, 2014')and in terms of order dated 09th September, 2013 passed by the
Supreme Court in Maharashtra Ekta Hawkers Union and
Another vs. Municipal Corporation, Greater Mumbai and
Anr.,2013(11)SCALE329.
Learned counsel for petitioners relies on Section 3(3)of the Act,2014 to pray that petitioners be allowed to continue to squat attheir respective sites.
In support of his submissions, he relies upon the
ORDER
ofthe Supreme Court in Maharashtra Ekta Hawkers
Union andAnother(supra)wherein it has been held as under:-
"16. For facilitating implementation of the 2009
Policy, we issue thefollowing directions: xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx
(xv) All the existing street vendors / hawkers operating across the country shall he allowed to operate till the exercise ofregistration and creation ofvending/hawking zones is completed in terms of the 2009Policy. Once thatexercise is completed, they shall he entitled to operate only in accordance with the orders/directions ofthe concerned Town Vending
Committee."
Learned counsel for respondent-NDMC who appears on advance notice, states that the petitioners are not existing squatters and are, therefore, not entitled to protection under
T' Section 3(3)ofAct,2014.
Learned counsel for respondent-NDMC further states that in accordance with the Act, 2014, petitioners should raise their grievances before the Town Vending Committee (hereinafter referred to as'Committee').
Learned counsel for respondent-NDMC also states that though the Committee has been appointed, yet it is not functional as oftoday.
In rejoinder, learned counsel for petitioners vehemently disputes the contentions advanced by learned counsel for respondent-NDMC.
Having heard learned counsel for parties, this Court is of the view that disputed questions of fact are involved in the present petitions. This Court is also ofthe opinion that in view of the Act, 2014 having come into force on 4th March, 2014, the appropriate forum to decide the lis between the parties is the
Committee.
The Act, 2014 provides for constitution of a Committee t
which is to conduct survey of all existing street vendors and make the scheme for relocation. Section 3(3) ofthe Act,2014 clearly states that no street vendor shall be evicted or relocated till survey specified under sub-Section(l) has been completed and the certificate of vending has been issued to all street vendors.
Consequently,the respondent-NDMC is directed to make the Committee functional as within eight weeks.Petitioners are permitted to file their representations with the Committee within a period ofeight weeks.
Upon the said representations being filed,the Committee is directed to decide the same expeditiously, preferably within six months.
With the aforesaid directions, present writ petitions and applications are disposed of."
The learned counsel for the respondents submit that although it had been stated that a Committee under the Act had been appointed, however, the correct position is that the Committee is yet to be constituted. He also points out that the directions have already been issued by this Court for constitution ofthe Committee in a time bound manner and the Committee is expected to be functional shortly.
In the circumstances, the present petitions and the pending applications are disposed ofin terms ofthe order dated 29.08.2014 passed in
W.P.(C) No.5580/2014 and the petitioners are permitted to make representations to the Committee as and when constituted.
Order dasti. v a ^
VIBHU BAKHRU,J
MAY 05,2015 rs