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The Delhi High Court has sought response of the GNCTD with respect to the implementation of  the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act and the formulation of the scheme whereunder and the functioning of the Town Vending Committees.

The order was passes by a division bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh while hearing a batch of pleas.

The Court expressed anguish on account of the non-functioning of several Town Vending Committees (TVCs) constituted under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. 

The Court noted that due to the TVCs not functioning, several issues which fall for its determination remains outstanding, as a result of which, genuine hawkers and street vendors who are conferred with rights under the said Act are being harassed and others, who may not be entitled to protection under the said Act appear to be taking advantage.

The Court further said that the Act was enacted in the year 2014 and, even after a passage of nearly 7 years, the TVCs have not functioned as mandated under the said Act. The GNCT has been framing schemes from time to time superseding the earlier schemes, and the earlier TVCs have also been superseded.

The response filed by NDMC disclosed that  the GNCTD has nominated some Expert Agencies for the purpose of assisting the TVC in carrying the survey. However it did not explain under which provision they have been appointed, and the manner in which they have been appointed.

Accordingly the Court directed the GNCTD to explain the position with regard to the implementation of the said Act; the formulation  of the schemes whereunder and the functioning of the TVCs. The Court further directed the govt to disclose how the so-called Experts have been appointed to assist the TVCs in the conduct of the survey, who are these Expert Agencies and, how they have been selected/ empanelled. 

The matter will now be heard on August 12.

Case Title: a batch of petitions