Satish Kr. Tripathi v. New Delhi Municipal Council

Delhi High Court · 11 Feb 2015 · 2015:DHC:11604
Vibhu Bakhrru
W.P.(C) 1308/2015
2015:DHC:11604
administrative appeal_dismissed Significant

AI Summary

The Delhi High Court held that disputes regarding street vending rights must be resolved by the Town Vending Committee constituted under the Street Vendors Act, 2014, and directed the municipal authorities to make the Committee functional to protect street vendors' livelihoods.

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* IN THE HIGH COlfRT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
+ W.PTQ 1308/2015
BHURE KHAN Petitioner
Through: Mr Satish Kr. Tripathi, Advocate.
VERSUS
NEW DELHI MUNICIPAL COlINCIL & ANR Respondents
Through: Mr Arjun Pant,Advocate for New Delhi Municipal Corporation.
AND
+ W.P.fC)1309/2015 & CM No.2309/2015
ARIJN MALHOTRA Petitioner
Through: Mr M.M.Kashyap,Advocate,
VERSUS
NORTH DELHI MUNICIPAL CXORI^ORATION Respondent
Through: Ms Puja Kaira,Advocate for North
Delhi Municipal Corporation.
AND
+ W.P.(C)1326/2015 & CM No.2330/2015
SHANU Petitioner
'Through: Mr M.M.Kashyap,Advocate,
VERSUS
EAST DELHI MUNICIPAL CORPORA'TION Respondent
Through
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE VIBHU BAKHRU
% 11.02.2015
The petitioners have filed the present petitions seeking an injunction restiaining 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
2015:DHC:11604 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 of with 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 certifieate of vending to the petitioners in accordance with Section 3(3) of the Street
Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street v|
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 rv. Municipal Corporation, Greater Mumhai 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 at their respective sites. ^
In support of his submissions, he relies upon the
ORDER
ofthe Supreme Court in Maharashtra Ekta Hawkers
Union andAnother(supra)wherein ithasbeen held asunder:- ^
"76. 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 be allowed to operate till the exercise ofregistration and creation ofvending / hawking zones is completed in terms of the 2009Policy. Once that exercise is completed, they shall be entitled to operate only in accordance with the orders/directions ofthe concerned Town Vending
Committee."
Learned counsel for respondenl-NDMC who appears on advance notice, slates that the petitioners are not existing squatters and are, therefore, not entitled to protection under
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 which is to conduct survey of all existing street vendors and make the scheme for relocation. Section 3(3) of the 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 cxpeditiously, preferably within six months.
With ihc 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 fact is that the Committee is yet to be constituted. He also points outthat the directions have already been issued by this Courtfor constitution ofthe Committee in a time bound manner and the Committee is expected to be functional within a few months.
In the eircumstanees, the present petitions and the pendi^ 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 Cfommittee as and when constituted. v>
Order dasti.
VIBHU BAKHRU,J
FEBRUARY 11,2015
MK