Alka Verma –
Published On: October 15, 2021 at 15:50 IST
The Delhi High Court stated that the non-performance of the officials to remove illegal hawkers and vendors from the no-vending zone is severely and adversely affecting citizens’ Rights To Life, which also includes a healthy and clean environment.
A Bench comprising Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Jasmeet Singh observed this while passing orders to remove unauthorised and illegal hawkers and vendors from Connaught Place.
The High Court also cautioned authorities of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Delhi Police, who have a locale over the space, to guarantee severe consistency of orders and schemes endorsed by the Supreme Court on infringements.
“We issue a stern warning to both — officers of the NDMC as well as the Delhi Police who have jurisdiction over the Connaught Place area, that is Rajiv Chowk and Indira Chowk — to ensure strict compliance of not only the scheme approved by the Supreme Court but also the orders passed by courts,” stated the Bench.
The High Court ordered these guidelines while dealing with a Plea filed by the New Delhi Traders’ Association, which represents shop owners and operators in Connaught Place.
The Plea filed by the association asked for directions to ensure that there should not be any illegal hawking or vending activities in the “no hawking” and “no vending” areas of Connaught Place.
The Court thus ordered that there should be zero tolerance for all the illegal hawkers and vendors and ordered that they should be removed with all the bags and baggage.
Further, adding to this, the Court also ordered the concerned officials to make sure that the area is always clean and the hawkers do not return.
“Status reports should be filed by the NDMC and Delhi Police about the steps taken by them not only to remove the encroachments but also to ensure that the illegal encroachers and vendors do not return and the area is kept clean on a continuous basis,” stated the Court.
For now, the matter is adjourned and next, it will be heard on November 8.