NEW DELHI: Expressing its serious concern over the rampant illegal encroachments by the hawkers and vendors in the Chandni Chowk area, the Delhi High Court has recently directed the city Police, MCD and authorities concerned to ensure that strict vigil and action, on a day-to-day basis, should be taken for removal of encroachments in the non-vending zones of the area.
A division bench of Justice Tushar Rao Gedela and Justice Ravinder Dudeja passed the order after hearing a petition filed by Chandni Chowk Sarv Vyapar Mandal (CCSVM) stating that despite clear orders and rules, there are illegal encroachments going on in Chandni Chowk area. It said that although the particular area is being declared as a no hawking and no vending zone, still illegal encroachments are going on, the Delhi HC's 6-page order copy, accessed by TNIE revealed.
The bench strictly said that despite our orders, in case the encroachments are not removed or re-occurs again, from today onwards, the Assistant Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) of the concerned zone and SHO of Lahori Gate and Kotwali police stations shall be held personally responsible.
The Court disposed of the writ petition and directed that the respondents (Delhi Police, MCD and other authorities concerned) shall strictly adhere to the actions to be undertaken as decided by the STF (Special Task Force) in its minutes and non-compliance thereof shall be viewed seriously by this Court.
The court also went on to say that the MCD shall be responsible for ensuring that the directions, as formulated by the STF in its minutes of December 2023 shall be scrupulously followed and implemented by the local authorities.
The Court had also pulled up the Delhi Police for its alleged failure to install 330 CCTV cameras in the area and said that the judicial directions on the issue were falling on deaf ears.
The petitioner, CCSVM moved the Delhi HC seeking directions to ensure that no squatting and hawking activities are carried on in the 'non-hawking/non-squatting areas' in Chandni Chowk.
The petitioner was being represented by lawyers Sanjiv Ralli and Mohit Mudgal and others, whereas the respondent's case was being argued by Akash Dahiya and Anuj Aggarwal.