Can't let Delhi go to dogs: High court frets over hawkers

NEW DELHI: "We can't let the city go to the dogs, we are here to protect the rule of law," an unhappy Delhi high court said on Wednesday, cautioning the state government and municipal authorities over the rising number of unauthorised street vendors.
A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh said while Delhi's area is constant, its population keeps on increasing - "it is bursting" at the seams - and wondered how many vendors the authorities are going to permit.
When advocate Rahul Mehra told the high court a solution will be found in the next three months, it shot back: "Forget about three months, three months is too long, not even a single day..."
The court further noted it has always been saying it recognises vendors and hawkers as an essential part of the economic system. Though the vendors have a right, no right is absolute, it said, adding, "We are here to protect the rule of law. (It) does not mean you only look at one constituency and say that, 'look their rights are there, they need to be protected'".
The HC said it will examine not just the 2014 Act, but the rules and schemes that flow from it.
It cited the status of Connaught Place and said it is a no-hawking and no-vending zone, but the vendors there are increasing day by day. "When you permit them (vendors), you permit them in such an unregulated way that today that market has lost its character... There are 10 vendors sitting outside shops and customers cannot enter because there is a problem of hygiene and law and order," the HC said.
"Whenever you find a picture of Delhi, iconic buildings and iconic places, you either find CP or Qutub Minar. That's how you depict Delhi. And very conveniently you don't even think it necessary for having a representative of CP associations in the TVC. That is why we take your assurances with a pinch of salt," the high court said.