Meghalaya High Court Calls For State's Report On Action Taken Under 2023 Street Vendors Scheme
The Meghalaya High Court on Thursday (June 12) asked the State Government to show, by July 1, action taken by it under Meghalaya State Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Scheme, 2023.The division bench comprising the Chief Justice I. P. Mukerji and Justice W. Diengdoh was hearing a PIL involving identifying street vending areas, relocating areas permitted to...
The Meghalaya High Court on Thursday (June 12) asked the State Government to show, by July 1, action taken by it under Meghalaya State Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Scheme, 2023.
The division bench comprising the Chief Justice I. P. Mukerji and Justice W. Diengdoh was hearing a PIL involving identifying street vending areas, relocating areas permitted to be used for street vending, regulation of traffic in general, allocating and relocating parking spaces, clearance of as much road area as possible to allow free movement of vehicles and overall implementation of policies and plans to make the capital of Meghalaya-Shillong region, a modern, clean and well administered city.
The Court by its order dated May 8, had taken on record the report by the government showing action in terms of its earlier order. The petitioner filed a response affidavit on June 2.
The Court noted that there is some substance in the statements made in the petitioner's response affidavit.
“It appears that although the government has taken steps for registration of authorised vendors, identification and allocation of vending zones with a plan for erection of several hundred stalls and adopted the policy to relocate these vendors to those vending zones, the scheme, christened Meghalaya State Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Scheme, 2023 has not been implemented. As a result, the problem of illegal occupation of road space and footpath and congestion continues. Special danger is caused to school going students who are unable to use the footpath and are compelled to walk on the road exposing themselves to traffic accidents,” it observed.
The Counsel appearing for the State submitted that the government is keen to implement the above policy and scheme expeditiously.
Thus, the Court adjourned the PIL till July 3. It further directed the respondents-State to file an affidavit showing action taken in terms of the Court's order and the Meghalaya State Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Scheme, 2023.
Case Title: Philip Khrawbok Shati v. State of Meghalaya & Ors.
Case No.: PIL No. 17 of 2021