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While addressing the BMC, the bench noted that nearly every lane in the city had been taken over by illegal hawkers, leaving no lane unaffected by the encroachment
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday reprimanded the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for failing to remove illegal hawkers from Mumbai's footpaths.
The division bench, comprising Justice AS Gadkari and Justice Kamal Khata, was hearing a suo moto PIL initiated by the high court to address the issue of illegal hawkers in the city.
While addressing the BMC, the bench noted that nearly every lane in the city had been taken over by illegal hawkers, leaving no lane unaffected by the encroachment.
The BMC submitted to the court that it is the police's responsibility to ensure hawkers stay off the streets. In response, the state’s counsel clarified that police personnel are deployed whenever requested by the BMC.
The high court's suo moto case specifically addresses the issue of illegal hawkers, as well as those hawkers who have been granted licenses by the civic body.
The high court previously remarked that streets and roads are cleared promptly for VVIPs, but not for the general public. It questioned whether the BMC would permit illegal hawkers to operate outside the Mantralaya and the Governor’s residence.
The court was informed that the issue could be resolved once the vending committee is established. The high court directed the BMC to prioritize making the 20 identified areas free of hawkers and stated that it would address the submissions from the hawkers’ association on the next hearing date.
The matter is scheduled to be heard on December 12.
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