Malkiat Singh and Anr v. State of Ut Chandigarh and Ors

CWPoNo.10327oofo2022oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-1 -

INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHo o o CWPoNo.o10327oofo2022o(O&M)o o rdoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooDateoofoDecision:oo23 oMay,o2025o o MalkitoSinghoandoanotheroo o o o o …oPetitionersoo Versuso StateoofoU.oT.oChandigarhoandootherso o o o …oRespondentsooo o o CORAM:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSANJEEVoPRAKASHoSHARMAoo o ooooooooHON'BLEoMRS.oJUSTICEoMEENAKSHIoI.oMEHTAo o Present:o Mr.oHardipoSingh,oAdvocate,oforotheopetitioners.oo Mr.oSanjivoGhai,oAdvocate,ofororespondentonos.o2oando3.oo o o SANJEEVoPRAKASHoSHARMA,oJ.oo o1.o o TheopetitionersoareopresidentsoofoManimajraoVyaparoMandaloando residentialo welfareo association,o Manimajra.o Theo concernedo mandalo ando associationohave,obyotheiroresolution,oresolvedotoofileotheowritopetitionoono behalfoofotheiromembersoandoitoisostatedoinopara-1oofotheowritopetitionoaso quotedounder:-o "1.oThatotheopetitionersoareolawoabidingoandopeaceolovingo citizenso ando haveo beeno lawfullyo carryingo outo theiro vocationo ino lifeo foro sustenanceo ando survival.o Theo petitionero No.o 1o owno Bootho No.o 902,o Nearo Localo Buso Stand,oManioMajraoandoisoPresidentoofotheoManioMajrao Vyaparo Mandalo ando theo petitionero No.o 2o President,o ofo Residentialo Welfareo Association,o Maino Bazaro Manio Majrao(regd.)oandopetitionersohaveobeenoauthorizedovideo Resolutionsodatedo28.4.22/25.4.22,oforofilingotheopresento petitiono too solveo theo problemso beingo facedo byo theo petitioners,omembersoofotheiroAssociationsoandopublicoato large.o Theopetitionersoaso welloasotheo membersoofo theiro CWPoNo.10327oofo2022oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-2 -

Associationohaveoresidentialohousesoandoshops/boothsoino theoMarketsolocatedoinotheoareaoofoManioMajraobutotheo petitionersoasowelloasomembersoofotheiroAssociationsoareo aggrievedofromotheoinactionoofotheorespondentsoforonoto removingotheoencroachmentsoonopublicopaths,oroadsoando onopublicopropertyomadeobyofruitovendors,orehriovendors,o hawkers,osquattersoandootherovendorsowhichoareocreatingo nuisance,otrafficohazards,ohindrancesoinofreeouseoofopaths,o roadoandopublicolandobyotheopublicoandobadlyoimpactotheo businessoofotheopetitionersoasowelloasomembersoofotheiro Associations."o

2.o o Ito iso allegedo thato theo vendors,o hawkerso ando squatterso areo membersoofomafiaoandoareoencroachers.oItoisoalsoostatedothatotheyoencroachedo onotheocommercialohubs,oroads,oparksoandootheropublicoplacesoandoadverselyo affectotheobusinessoofotheopetitionersoandoobstructotheoopenoandofreeouseoofo theo roads,o pathso ando publico places.o Photographso haveo beeno placedo whicho reflectothatotheohawkersohaveosetoupotheirosmalloshopsosellingofruitsoorostallso ofowateroballso(commonlyoknownoasogolgappa/opaniopoori)oandocaneojuiceotoo theopeopleowhooareocomingotootheomarket.oThereoareosomeohawkersowhoowereo shownotoobeosellingovegetablesonearotheoroads.oTheseostallsoareonotoinofrontoofo anyoofotheoshopsobutoagainstobackowallsoofotheobuildings.oNoneoofothemohaso beenoimpleadedoasopartyotootheopresentowritopetition.oItowouldobeointerestingo too noteo theo prayero madeo ino theo presento writo petition,o whicho iso extractedo below,o ando appearso too haveo beeno encouragedo ono theo basiso ofo certaino observationsomadeowithoreferenceotooencroachmentsoofotheoshopokeepersoono theo walkways,o publico pathso ando corridorso byo ao Coordinateo Bencho ofothiso CourtoinoCWPoNo.o19675oofo2019-oRajeshoKumaroandoothersovsoM.oC.oando othersovideoorderodatedo25.07.2019odirectingotheoadministrationotooensureo CWPoNo.10327oofo2022oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-3 -

thato neithero anyo showo roomo owner,o shop-keepero oro bootho ownero placedo material/oproductoinofrontoofotheiropremisesonorohangotheosameooutsideotheiro premises:-o "i)oissueoaowritoinotheonatureoofoMANDAMUSodirectingo theo respondentso foro takingo concrete/effectiveo stepso foro redressaloofogrievancesoofotheopetitioners/residents/shopo keeperso ofo Manimajra,o ando theo publico ato largeo foro removal/stoppingofruitovendors,orehriovendors,ohawkers,o squattersoandoothero vendorso puttingo theiro stallsoonotheo publicopaths,oroadsoandoinofrontoofoshopsoinotheoareaoofo LocaloBusoStand,oRanaoHaweli,oPrimaryoSchool,oPoliceo BeatoBoxoandoMainoBazar,oManimajraowhichoisonotobeingo doneo despiteo ordero datedo 25.7.2019o passedo byo thiso Hon'bleoCourto(ANNEXUREoP-1)oandobringingotheosameo intootheonoticeooforespondentsobyotheopetitionersovideotheiro representationo datedo 8.2.2022,o 21.2.2022o ando legalo noticeo datedo 28.2.2022o (ANNEXUREo P-2o TOo ANNEXUREo P-4)o noro takeno anyo decisionso ono theo representationoandolegalonoticeoissuedobyotheopetitioners;o

ii)otooprepareoaocrystaloclearoandoeffectiveoenforcemento staffo ando dulyo mannedo Beato Boxeso ino theo areao ofo Manimajra,oconvenientlyoapproachableotootheoresidents/o shopo keeperso etco too makeo complaintso againsto theo defaulters;o

iii)oissueoanyootheroappropriateowrit,oorderoorodirectiono whichothisoHon'bleoCourtomayodeemsofitoandoproperoinotheo factsoandocircumstancesoofotheocase."o

3.o o TheoStreetoVendorso(ProtectionoofoLivelihoodoandoRegulationoofo StreetoVending)oAct,o2014owasoenactedotooprotectotheostreetovendors',owhoo areoengagedoinoself-employmentowhichoalleviatesourbanopovertyoandoprovideso CWPoNo.10327oofo2022oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-4 -

affordableo ando conveniento meanso ofo livelihoodo too majorityo ofo populationo whoohaveoshiftedotootheourbanoareasothroughostreetovending.oo

4.o o Ifoweogoointootheolegalohistoryorelatingotooencroachments,oweo noticeo thato ino Pyareo Lalo etc.o vso Newo Delhio Municipalo Committeeo ando anotheroAIRo1968oSCo133,otheoissueorelatingotoosellingoofocookedofoodoono publico streetso whicho createdo problemso ofo unhygienico conditionso cameo upo beforeoHon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtoinoviewooforesolutionoofotheoNewoDelhio Municipalo Committeeo restrainingo sucho sales.o Hon'bleo theo Supremeo Courto heldoasounder:-o "…..o Thiso argumento iso fallacious.o Theo objecto ofo sectiono 23(1)oandotheodifferentosub-rules.ounderoruleso50owasoentirelyo differento fromo thato behindos.o 173(1)oofo theo Punjabo Municipalo Act.oTheoobjectoofotheoFoodoAdulterationoAct,oasoitsopreambleo shows,owasotoomakeoprovisionoforotheopreventionoofoadulterationo ofo foodo ando adulterationo ino thiso connectiono hado ao specialo significanceounderos.o2oofotheoAct.oTheoobjectoofothisoActowasotoo ensureo thato foodo whicho theo publico couldo buyo waso intero aliao prepared,opackedoandostoredounderosanitaryoconditionsosooaso nototoobeoinjuriousotootheohealthoofotheopeopleoconsumingoit.oTheo ruleso framedo thereundero wouldo onlyo over-rideo ruleso oro byeo laws,oifoany,omadeobyoanyomunicipalityoifotheyocoveredotheosameo field.oUnderoSectiono173(1)oofotheoPunjaboMunicipaloActoitoiso openotooaomunicipalocommitteeotootakeostepsotoopreventosaleoofo anyo cookedo foodo howevero pureo ifo theo saleo thereofo ono publico streetsowouldoofferoobstructionotoopassersbyoorocreateoinsanitaryo condition.,,obecauseowasteomatterowasoboundotoobeothrownoono theostreetoanowashingoupoofoarticlesousedoinotheotradeointroduceo unhygienico conditionso ino theo neighbourhoodo ando createo nuisance.o Weo cannoto accepto theo contentiono thatoSection.o 173(1)ohado onlyo theo objecto ofo ensuringo theo freeo passageo ofo CWPoNo.10327oofo2022oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-5 -

personsoandotrafficoalongotheopublicostreetoandosoolongoasothereo wasonoosuchoobstructionopowersounderoSectiono173ocouldonotobeo utilisedoforoanyoobliqueopurposeolikeopreventingoper-oson,,ofromo carryingoonoaolawfulotrade."o

5.o o India,obeingoessentiallyoaocountryoofopeopleocomingofromotheo villagesoandocitiesobeingoformedobyotheiromovementoofovillagersotowardsotheo townshipsoforogreeneropastures,ocontinuesotooremainoanoagrarianosociety.oIno fact,odevelopmentoofoanyocityoisoonoaccountoofotheoreasonoofomovementoofotheo peopleofromotheovillagesotootheotownsoandofromotownsotooformocities.oTheo approximateototalopopulationoofoDelhi,oMumbai,oandoKolkatao(thenoCalcutta)o ino 1947o waso 15,13,000o whicho haso beeno nowo increasedo too approximatelyo 28,00,000oasoonotoday.oThus,othereoisoexodusofromoaovillageotooinfluxoinoao city.oMoreoandomoreopeopleocameotootheocityoinosearchoofoemploymentoando earning.o Allo cannoto geto employment,o however,o ao humano mindo alwayso searcheso oneo oro othero sourceo ofo earning.o Thereo mayo beo goodo meanso ofo earningoorobadomeansoofoearning.oBothoofothemoprosperoinoaocity.oSo,oweohaveo moreonumberoofocrimesoinoaocityoand,oatotheosameotime,omoreonumberoofo opportunitiesoofoearning.oTheseoopportunitiesoareoformedoinotheomanneroofo doingosmallobusinessoofosellingoofoeateriesoorosmalloitemsoofoday-to-dayouses.o Bestoexampleoisoofopeopleosellingonamkeens,oetc.,oinotheotrains.o

6.o o Thoughoofolately,osuchoinstancesoareoonlyofoundoinotheotrainso connectingo betweeno localo citieso oro whereo thereo iso denseo populationo likeo Bihar,oU.P.,oetc.oWhile,oofocourse,oinotrainsolikeoVandeoBharat,ooneomayonoto findosuchoinstancesoand,oatotheosameotime,opeopleotravellingoinoVandeoBharato trains,oiforequiredoforoanyoreasonotootraveloinoaopassengerotrainowhichostopsoato CWPoNo.10327oofo2022oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-6 -

eachoandoeveryosmallorailwayostation,oheocannotoobjectotoosuchokindoofopeopleo sellingosmalloitems,oalthoughoheomayonotolikeoit.oo

7.o o Weocannotocloseoouroeyesotootheofactothatothereoisoanoeliteoclasso stillofollowingotheoBritishers,owhoolooksodownouponotheiroownocountrymeno doingosmallobusinessoandotreatothemoasoifotheyoareomafias,oasostatedoinotheo presentowritopetition,ooroencroachersowhoocauseochaosoinocommercialohubs.o

8.o o TheoJudiciaryohasotooriseoitselfoaboveofromosuchoimpressionso whichosuchoeliteoclassocarries.oGoneoareotheodaysowhenoweohadoBritishoJudgeso sittingoinoCourts,olookingoatojusticeotoobeodeliveredoforopeopleowhoorule.oWeo areoaocountry,owhooareonowohavingohomogenousoclassoofoIndians.oAoTribalo ladyoofoaoremoteovillageocanonowobeotheoPresidentoofoIndia,oandoaoworkero fromo theo grass-rooto levelo mayo reacho upo too theo highesto echelonso ofo theo administration.oThereoareoscoresoofoexamplesoofosuchoemployeesowhooareo presentlyo workingo ono variouso postso ando areo ablyo helpingo ino theo administrationoasowelloasoJudiciaryoinotheocountry.oEvenoinotheoJudiciary,oweo haveohadoexamplesoofopersonsowhooworkedoasoMunshis/oClerksowitholawyerso andoroseouptootheoleveloofoChiefoJustices.oInotheoaforesaidobackground,oifoweo lookoatotheopresentocase,oweofindothatoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoGaindao RamoandoothersovsoM.oC.oD.oandootherso2010o(10)oSCCo715owhereinoito noticedo theo paradigmo shifto fromo Pyareo Lal'so caseo (supra)o too theo caseo ofo SodanoSinghoandoothersovsoNewoDelhioMunicipaloCommitteeoandootherso 1989o (4)o SCCo 155,o holdingo thato streetso ino Indiao areo vestedo ino theo MunicipalityoandotheyohaveotoobeousedobyotheoMunicipalitiesoasotrustees.oTheo relevantopartoofotheojudgmentoandotheoconcurringoviewoofoHon'bleoMr.oJusticeo KuldipoSinghoareoextractedoasounder:-o CWPoNo.10327oofo2022oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-7 -

"16.o Asotoowhatowilloconstituteopubliconuisanceoandowhatocano beoincludedoinotheolegitimateouserocanobeoascertainedoonlyobyo takingointooaccountoallotheorelevantocircumstancesoin-ocludingo theosizeoofotheoroad,otheoamountoofotrafficoandotheonatureoofotheo additionalouseooneowantsotoomakeoofotheopublicostreets.oThisohaso too beo judgedo objectivelyo ando hereo comeso theo roleo ofo publico authorities.o

17.o Soofaroasorightoofoaohawkerotootransactobusinessowhileo goingofromoplaceotooplaceoisoconcerned,oitohasobeenoadmittedlyo recognisedoforoaolongoperiod.oOfocourse,othatoalsooisosubjectotoo properoregulationoinotheointerestoofogeneraloconvenienceoofotheo publico includingo healtho ando securityo considerations.o Whato abouto theo righto too squato ono theo roado sideo foro engagingo ino tradingo business?o Aso waso statedo byo thiso Courto inoBombayo HawkersoUnionoandoothersov.oBombayoMunicipaloCorporationo ando others,o [1985]o 3o SCRo 528,o theo publico streetso byo theiro nomenclatureo ando definitiono areo meanto foro theo useo ofo theo generalopublic:otheyoareonotolaidotoofacilitateotheocarryingoonoofo privateo business.o Ifo hawkerso wereo too beo concededo theo righto claimedo byo them,o theyo couldo holdo theo societyo too ransomo byo squattingo ono theo busyo thoroughfares,o therebyo paralysingo allo civicolife.oThisoisooneosideoofotheopicture.oOnotheootherohand,oifo properlyo regulatedo accordingo too theo exigencyo ofo theo circumstances,o theo smallotraderso ono theo saido walkso cano considerablyoaddotootheocom-ofortoandoconvenienceoofogeneralo public,obyomakingoavailableoordinaryoarticlesoofoeveryodayouseo foroaocomparativelyolesseroprice.oAnoordinaryoperson,onotoveryo affluent,owhileohurryingotowardsohisohomeoafteroday'soworkocano pickoupotheseoarticlesowithoutogoingooutoofohisowayotoofindoao regularo market.o Ifo theo circumstanceso areo appropriateo ando ao smallotraderocanodoosomeobusinessoforopersonalogainoonotheo pave-omentotootheoadvantageoofotheogeneralopublicoandowithouto anyodiscomfortooroannoyanceotootheoothers,oweodoonotoseeoanyo CWPoNo.10327oofo2022oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-8 -

objectiono too hiso carryingo ono theo business.o Appreciatingo thiso analogyotheomunicipalitiesoofodifferentocitiesoandotownsoinotheo countryohaveobeenoallowingosuchotraders.oTheorightotoocarryoono tradeo oro businesso mentionedo inoArticleo 19(1)(g)oofo theo Constitution,oonostreetopavements,oifoproperlyoregulatedocannoto beodeniedoonotheogroundothatotheostreetsoareomeantoexclusivelyo foro passingo oro re-passingo ando foro noo othero use.o Propero regulationois,ohowever,oaonecessaryoconditionoasootherwiseotheo veryo objecto ofo layingo outo roads-too facilitateo traffic--mayo beo defeated.o Allowingo theo righto too tradeo with-o outo appropriateo controloisolikelyotooleadotoounhealthyocompetitionoandoquarrelo betweenotradersoandotravellingopublicoandosometimesoamongsto theotradersothemselvesoresultingoinochaos.oTheorightoisosubjectotoo reasonableo restrictionso undero clauseo (6)o ofoArticleo 19.oIfo theo matteroisoexaminedoinothisolightoitowilloappearothatotheoprincipleo statedo inoSaghiro Ahmad'so caseo ino connectiono witho transporto businessoappliesotootheohawkers'ocaseoalso.oTheopropositionothato allopublicostreetsoandoroadsoinoIndiaovestoinotheoStateobutothatotheo Stateo holdso themo aso trusteeoonobehalfoofo theo public,o andotheo membersoofotheopublicoareoentitledoasobeneficiariesotoouseothemo asoaomatterooforight,oandothatothisorightoisolimitedoonlyobyotheo similaro fightso possessedo byo everyo othero citizeno too useo theo pathways,o ando furthero thato theo Stateoaso trusteeo iso entitledotoo imposeoallonecessaryolimitationsoonotheocharacteroandoextentoofo theouser,oshouldobeotreatedoasoofouniversaloapplication."o xxxo o o o xxo o o xxo

26.o WeoasoaoCourtoinoaowelfareoStateodoorealiseotheohardshipo toowhichomanyoofotheopetitionersomayobeoexposedoifotheyoareo preventedofromocarryingoonotheobusiness.oTheoonlyosolutionoforo thisoisotheoadoptionoofotheopolicyoofofulloemployment,owhichoeveno accordingotooleadingoeconomistsolikeoKeynesowilloalleviateotheo problemsoofotheounemployedotoosomeoextent.oButoasostudentsoofo CWPoNo.10327oofo2022oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-9 -

economicsoweoalsoorealiseothatoeveryohumanoactivityohasotheo 'optimumopoint'obeyondowhichoitobecomesowhollyounproductive.o ItoisoforotheoGovernmentotootakeoreasonableostepsotooprevento movementoofopeopleofromoruraloareasotoourbanoareas.oThatocano beodoneobyotheodevelopmentoofourbanocentersoinoruraloareaso removedofromoeachootheroatoleastobyooneohundredomiles.oThisoiso moreoaomatteroofoexecutiveopolicyothanoforojudicialofiat.oWeohopeo andotrustothatoinoadministeringotheolawsoinoforceotheoauthoritieso willo keepo ino viewo humaneo considerations.o Witho theseo observationsoweodisposeoofotheseopetitionsoandoremitothemotootheo appropriateo Divisiono Bencho foro finalo disposalo ino accordanceo withothisojudgment.o KULDIPoSINGH,oJ.oIohaveoreadotheoeruditeojudgmentoofoL.M.o Sharma,oJ,owhereinoitohasobeenoheldothatostreetotrading,owhethero aso ano itineranto vendor/hawkero oro fromo ao stationaryo position/receptacle/o kiosk/foot-path,o iso ao fundamentalo righto guaranteedounderoArticleo19(1)(g)oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia.o Theosaidorightoisoobviouslyosubjectotooreasonableorestrictionso imposedobyotheoStateounderoArticleo19(6)oofotheoConstitution.oIto hasofurtherobeenoheldothatothereoisonoofundamentalorightoofoao citizeno too occupyo ao particularo placeo ino anyo streeto foro theo purposeoofoengagingohimselfoino'streetotrading.'oIorespectfullyo agreeo witho theseo findingso arrivedo ato byo Sharma,o J.o Io may,o however,oaddofewowordsotoosupportotheseofindings.o

28.o TheoguaranteeounderoArticleo19(1)(g)oextendsotoopracticeo anyo profession,o oro too carryo ono anyo occupation,o tradeo oro business.o 'Profession'o meanso ano occupationo carriedo ono byo ao personobyovirtueoofohisopersonaloandospecialisedoqualifications,o trainingooroskill.oTheowordo'Occupation'ohasoaowideomeaningo suchoasoanyoregularowork,oprofession,ojob,oprincipaloactivity,o employment,o businesso oro ao callingo ino whicho ano individualo iso engaged.o 'Trade'o ino itso widero senseo includeso anyo bargaino oro sale,oanyooccupationoorobusinessocarriedoonoforosubsistenceooro CWPoNo.10327oofo2022oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-10 -

profit,oitoisoanoactoofobuyingoandosellingoofogoodsoandoservices.oIto mayo includeo anyo businesso carriedo ono witho ao viewo too profito whetheromanualooromercantile.o'Business'oisoaoveryowideotermo andowouldoincludeoanythingowhichooccupiesotheotime,oattentiono andolabouroofoaomanoforotheopurposeoofoprofit.oItomayoincludeoino itso formo trade,o profession,o industrialo ando commercialo operations,opurchaseoandosaleoofogoods,oandowouldoincludeoany-o thingowhichoisoanooccupationoasodistinguishedofromopleasure.o Theo objecto ofo usingo fouro analogouso ando overlappingo wordso inoArticleo 19(l)(g)oiso too makeo theo guaranteedo righto aso comprehensiveoasopossibleotooincludeoallotheoavenuesoandomodeso throughowhichoaomanomayoearnohisolivelihood.oInoaonut-shellotheo guaranteeotakesointoofoldoanyoactivityocarriedoonobyoaocitizenoofo Indiao too earno hiso living.o Theo activityo musto ofo courseo beo legitimateo ando noto anti-socialo likeo gambling,o traffickingo ino womenoandotheolike.o

29.o Streetotradingoisoanoage-oldovocationoadoptedobyohumano beingsotooearnoliving.oInotheooldenodaysotheovenueoofotradingoando businessohasoalwaysobeenotheopublicostreetsobut,oinotheocourseoofo timeo fairs,o markets,o bazarso ando moreo recentlyo bigo shoppingo complexesoandofashionableoplazasohaveocomeoup.oInospiteoofothiso evolutionoinobusinessoandotradeopatternsotheo'streetotrading'oiso acceptedoasooneoofotheolegitimateomodesoofoearningolivelihoodo evenoinotheomostoaffluentocountriesoofotheoworld."oo

11.o o Ino viewo ofo theo observationso ofo Hon'bleo theo Supremeo Court,o highlightingo importanceo ofo framingo Regulations,o theo Streeto Vendorso (ProtectionoofoLivelihoodoandoRegulationoofoStreetoVending)oAct,o2014,ohaso comeointooforce.oTheoActoreceivedotheoassentofromoHon'bleotheoPresidentoofo Indiaoono04.03.2014oandowasopublishedoinotheoGazetteoono05.03.2014.oItowaso anoActoasoperotheoPreambleotooprotectotheorightsoofotheostreetovendorsoandotoo regulateo streeto vendingo activitieso foro matterso connectedo therewitho oro CWPoNo.10327oofo2022oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-11 -

incidentalotheretooandodefineo'streetovendor'oaso"aopersonoengagedoinovendingo ofo articles,o goods,o wares,o foodo itemso oro merchandiseo ofo everydayo useo ofo offeringoservicesotootheogeneralopublic,oinoaostreet,olane,osideowalk,ofootpath,o pavement,o publico parko oro anyo othero publico placeo oroprivateo area,o fromo ao temporaryobuiltoupostructureoorobyomovingofromoplaceotooplaceoandoincludeso hawkers,opeddlers,osquattersoandoallootherosynonymousotermsowhichomayobeo localo oro regiono specific";o ando theo wordso 'streeto vending'o witho theiro grammaticalo variationso ando cognateo expressions,o shallo beo construedo accordingly.oThus,otheoActorecognizesoanyopersonowhoowouldobeoperformingo theoaforesaidoworkotoobeoaostreetovendor.oo

12.o o Regulationsohaveobeenolaidodownoforostreetovendingowithotheo TownoVendingoCommitteeotooconductosurveyoafteroeveryofiveoyearsobindingo themotooensureothatoallowhoohaveobeenosurveyedoareoaccommodatedoinotheo vendingozonesosubjectotoocertainoconditions.oNoostreetovendoroisotoobeoevictedo orore-locatedotillotheirosurveyoisocompletedoandoaocertificateoofovendingoiso issuedotooallotheostreetovendors.oAsotheovendorsohaveoaorightotooreceiveoao certificateoonceotheyoareoidentifiedoinotheosurvey.oo

13.o o TheoActoprovidesootheroseveraloregulationsoandodisputeoredressalo mechanism.oHowever,oinotheonutshell,oweonoticeothatoHon'bleotheoSupremeo CourtoasowelloasotheoActoallowsothemotoobeoprotectedoandonoowritowouldolieo seekingotheiroeviction.o

14.o o Ino Maharashtrao Ektao Hawkerso Uniono ando anothero vso MunicipaloCorporation,oGreateroMumbaioandootherso2014o(1)oSCCo490,o Hon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtoheldoasounder:-o CWPoNo.10327oofo2022oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-12 -

"14.o Weo haveo consideredo theo respectiveo argumentso /o submissions.oLearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoareoad–idemothato theo orderso passedo byo thiso Courto fromo timeo too timeo haveo noto solvedotheoproblemsoofotheostreetovendorso/ohawkersoandotheo residentsoofotheocitiesoofoDelhioandoMumbaioandoalmostoeveryo yearotheyohaveobeenoseekingointerventionoofothisoCourtobyofilingo interlocutoryoapplications.oTheoexperienceohas,ohowever,oshowno thatoitoisovirtuallyoimpossibleoforothisoCourtotoomonitorodayotoo dayo implementationo ofo theo provisionso ofo differento enactmentso ando theo directionso containedo ino theo judgmentso notedo hereinabove.o Therefore,o ito willo beo appropriateo too lifto theo embargoo placedo ono theo entertainingo ofo matterso byo theo Higho Courtso ando weo ordero accordingly.o Paragrapho 45o ofo theo judgmentoreportedoino(2009)o17oSCCo151oshallostandomodifiedo ando theo streeto vendorso /o hawkers,o theo residentso ando otherso adverselyoaffectedobyostreetovendingo/ohawkingoshallohencefortho beo entitledo too invokeo theo jurisdictiono ofo theo concernedo Higho Courtsofororedressaloofotheirogrievance."o

15.o o Hon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtoinoGaindaoRam'socaseo(supra)ohado lamentedoonotheoriseoofotheoaspirationsoofopeopleoasothereoisomoreoinflowoofo wealthoandoheldoasounder:-o "77.o Thiso Courto iso givingo thiso directiono ino exerciseo ofo itso jurisdictionotooprotectotheofundamentalorightoofotheocitizens.oTheo hawkers'oandosquatters'oorovendors'orightotoocarryoonohawkingo haso beeno recognizedo aso fundamentalo righto undero Articleo 19(1)(g).oAtotheosameotimeotheorightoofotheocommutersotoomoveo freelyo ando useo theo roadso withouto anyo impedimento iso alsoo ao fundamentalorightounderoArticleo19(1)(d).oTheseotwooapparentlyo conflictingo rightso musto beo harmonizedo ando regulatedo byo subjectingothemo too reasonableo restrictionso onlyo undero aolaw.o Theo questiono is,o therefore,o vitallyo importanto too ao veryo largeo sectionoofopeople,omostlyoordinaryomenoandowomen.oSuchoano CWPoNo.10327oofo2022oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-13 -

issueocannotobeoleftotoobeodecidedobyoschemesoandowhichoareo monitoredobyothisoCourtofromotimeotootime."o oo

16.o o Weofindothatoevenoaftero12oyearsoofotheosaidojudgmentopassedobyo Hon'bleotheoSupremeoCourt,othereoisoanoattemptothroughothisowritopetitionotoo evictotheovendorsowhooareoadmittedlyocarryingooutovendingosinceolongoinotheo areaowhereotheomembersoofotheounionofalls.oWeoareotoldothatoManimajra,o whichohasobeenonowoincludedoasopartoofourbanizedoareaoofoU.T.oChandigarho andowasoearlieroaovillageoofoChandigarh,ohasolocalomarketowithotheostreeto vendorsosellingotheirofoodoitems,oetc.osinceolong.oo

17.o o Beforeoweocloseotheocase,oweoareoofotheofirmoviewothatotheostreeto vendorso ando theiro families,o whoo areo depositingo feeo witho theo Municipalo Corporationoforotheocertificateobeingogivenotoothemoforovending,oalsooneedotoo beo providedo someo socialo protection.o Theo amounto soo recoveredo byo theo MunicipaloCorporationoshould,otherefore,obeousedoforotheirobenefitsoaloneoando shouldobeokeptoinoaoseparateobudgetohead,oandoasoaosuitableoinsuranceoforo them,o includingo medicalo facilities,o shouldo beo providedo byo theo Municipalo Corporation,oU.T.oChandigarh,oandoRulesoinothisoregardoshouldobeoframed.o

18.o o Ato theo sameo time,o thiso Courto alsoo noticeso thato theo Streeto VendingoActoandotheobenefitsowhichoitomeantotoogiveotootheogenuineostreeto vendorso iso alsoo beingo misusedo byo ao certainosetoofo persons,o ando eveno theo shopkeepersothemselvesosetupohawkers'ostalloinofrontoofotheiroshopsosellingo theiroownoitems.oAtotheosameotime,oaocertainogroupoofopeopleouseowrongfulo meansotoogetotheironameoenteredoinotheosurveyoregistersoandoillegallyogetositeso registeredoforohawkersopurposely.oSuchomisuseoofolawodeservesotoobeodealto CWPoNo.10327oofo2022oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-14 -

witho byo ano irono hando ando ao willo too executeo theo provisionso ofo lawo witho integrityoandodutifully.o

19.o o Theo Municipalo Corporation,o U.T.o Chandigarh,o shouldo accordinglyosetoupoaoparticularocelloofoInspectors/Officersotooregulateothato thereoisonoomisuseoofotheoVendors'oActosoothatogenuineopeopleomayonotobeo harmed.o

20.o o Theopetition,o primao facie,o appearso toobeoao motivatedopetitiono withoaoviewotoouseotheolegaloforumoforoevictingoandodestabilizingotheolocalo businessoofotheostreetovendors.oWeocannotoallowosuchoabuseoofoprocessoofo law.oTheowritopetitionois,oaccordingly,odismissedowithocostsoofoRs.o50,000/-o eachoonobothotheoUnionsotoobeodepositedowithotheoMunicipaloCorporation,o U.T.oChandigarh,oforotheowelfareoofotheostreetovendorsoandotheirofamilies.o

21.o o Allopendingoapplicationsoshallostandodisposedoof.oo o o o o o o o o (SANJEEVoPRAKASHoSHARMA)o o o o o o o o o oJUDGEoo o rd23 ooMay,o2025o o o o ooooo(MEENAKSHIoI.oMEHTA)o vso o o o o o o oooooooooJUDGEoo o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo o Yes/Noo Whetheroreportableo o o Yes/Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo