'Get all vendors at weekly markets in Delhi vaccinated'

NEW DELHI: Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has permitted all authorised weekly markets to operate in the national capital, the Aam Aadmi Party government told Delhi High Court on Tuesday.
Taking note of the development, the court reiterated that vendors operating at the weekly markets shall ensure that, if not vaccinated already, they get themselves inoculated at the earliest. Justice Rekha Palli expressed satisfaction that Delhi government has proposed to take RAT and RT-PCR test in these weekly markets.
The Delhi high court noted that the grievance of the petitioner — Saptahik Patri Bazar Association — has been redressed and disposed of the plea.
The government informed the court that “Delhi Disaster Management Authority has now taken a decision to permit all the authorised weekly markets to operate in the national capital with effect from August 9.” Before this, due to Covid-19 restrictions, it had allowed weekly markets to open but only with 50% of vendors and one market in each municipal zone.
The high court had earlier this month issued notice to the government and asked it to respond to the association’s petition challenging the authorities’ decision to open malls and markets but not weekly markets.
The petitioner’s counsel had said that the “restrictions on the other activities were relaxed on June 13 and these vendors who belong to the poorest of poor class are suffering.”
The high court had earlier said it was expected that street vendors will take proactive steps to get vaccinated so that the third wave of Covid-19 could be avoided and the national capital was not faced with a surge as witnessed recently.