Jaan Mohd & Ors v. Municipal Corporation of Delhi & Anr

J U D G M E N T

SIDDHARTH MRIDUL, J. (OPEN COURT)

CM APPL. 28329/2023 (Exemption)

Exemption allowed, subject to all just exceptions.

The application stands disposed of accordingly. W.P.(C) 7286/2023 & CM APPL. 28328/2023 (Stay)

¶1The present writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, has been instituted on behalf of the petitioners, praying as follows:- "It is thus most respectfully prayed that the Hon'ble Court may be pleased to pass the following directions:

A) Issue an appropriate Writ of Mandamus, Order or direction to the Respondents No.1-2 to permit the petitioners to continue to vend within Central Zone, Ward 5-58 in accordance with the terms and conditions of their respective Certificate of Vending

(B) Pass any such order/further orders as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper."

¶2Issue notice.

¶3Ms. Anjali Chauhan, learned Standing Counsel, accepts notice on behalf of the respondent No. 1/MCD and Mr. Laksh Khanna, learned APP accepts notice on behalf of the respondent No.2/SHO, Police Station: Lodhi Colony

¶4Learned Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of the MCD, has invited our attention to the terms and conditions, permitting the petitioners to vend.

¶5For the sake of completeness, the said terms and conditions attached to the Certificate of Vending, are reproduced herein below:- "1. Vendor shall not have any other permanent

or long-term vending certificate.

¶2Vending certificate is non-transferable.

¶3It is mandatory for the vendor to follow the

vending period and zone as determined by

TVC or local body.

¶4Vendor shall not give his vending

certificate on rent in any way.

¶5Vendor shall not have any infectious

disease.

¶6Vendor shall have to take care of hygiene

on vending place/zone and nearby area

and also take care of public health.

¶7Vendor shall display copy of vending

certificate on his place/vending site and

will produce original documents to

TVC/concerned inspector whenever

required.

¶8Vendor/Squatter shall insure that no

hindrance be caused to pedestrian and

vehicular moment.

¶9Vendor shall not vend/sell any harmful,

dangerous and polluted items. It

should also be ensured that the

quality of the products sold and

services provided to the public conform to

the prescribed standards of public

health, hygienic conditions and

safety.

¶10The street vendor shall not do any

unauthorized/illegal activity.

¶11Mobile vendors shall not stay or vend

more than minutes or time

prescribed by the TVC at place in a

vending/squatting zone.

¶12Vendors will not block footpaths and will

not vend on roads. Vendor should take care

of space in front of vending stalls/counters

on footpath for pedestrians.

¶13Vending certificate can be cancelled or

suspended on the basis of violations.

¶14Vendor shall not build or construct any

kind of permanent or temporary structure

at vending site.

¶15Seller shall adopt health and hygiene

conditions as required by local laws and

court orders.

¶16Vendor have to follow all the conditions

mentioned in Delhi Street Vendors

(Protection of Livelihood and

Regulation of Street Vending) Scheme,

2019."

¶6In terms of the Certificates of Vending issued to the petitioners, it is clearly stipulated that they cannot vend from any particular location, contrary to the express terms of Clause no. '11', of the said Certificates of Vending. It is further observed that since the Town Vending Committee (TVC) is yet to fix a time limit, providing for a period, during which vendors can vend from any particular spot, the stipulation

of 30 minutes time, contained in the said clause, is binding on the petitioners, at this stage. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners states, that they do not pray for the relief of running their business from any particular vending site, within the zone where they have been permitted to vend by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, and further, the solitary relief that is prayed for, is to permit the petitioners to vend strictly, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Certificates of Vending dated 06.11.2021, issued by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

¶7It is an admitted position that the Town Vending Committee

(TVC), has in terms of the directions issued by this Court, from time to time, as well as, in terms of the mandate of Section 3 (Survey of street vendors and protection from eviction on relocation) and Section 4 (Issue of certificate of vending) of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, carried out a survey, in some of the areas under the MCD zones; pursuant to which, the following petitioners have been issued certificates of vending, which are annexed as Annexure P-1, to the present writ petition. S.NO. NAME OF THE STREET VENDORS DATE OF ISSUE OF VENDING CERTIFICATE PLACE OF VENDING VENDING CERTIFICATE

(URI) CATEGORY OF THE COV ISSUED

Mr. Jaan Mohd.

06.11.2021 Central Zone, Ward-S-58 5644923 Fresh Fruits/Vegetabl es/Perishables Mr. Shakil Qureshi

06.11.2021 Central Zone, Ward-S-58 7137452 Fresh Fruits/Vegetabl es/Perishables Mohammad Salman

06.11.2021 Central Zone, Ward-S-58 2053412 Fresh Fruits/Vegetabl es/Perishables Mr. Nathu Ram

06.11.2021 Central Zone, Ward-S-58 2088672 Fresh Fruits/Vegetabl es/Perishables Mr. Sohan Lal Yadav

06.11.2021 Central Zone, Ward-S-58 6104033 Fresh Fruits/Vegetabl es/Perishables

¶8In view of the foregoing, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners, seeks a solitary relief in the present writ petition, i.e. a direction to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, to permit the petitioners, to continue to vend within Central Zone, Ward-S-58, strictly and scrupulously in compliance with the terms and conditions of the said certificates of vending and in accordance with law.

¶9In view of the above, the present writ petition is allowed; and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi is directed to permit the petitioners, to vend within Central Zone, Ward-S-58, subject to the terms and conditions of the said certificates of vending dated 06.11.2021, without any let or hindrance.

¶10No further directions are prayed for.

¶11With the above directions, the writ petition is disposed of accordingly. The pending application also stands disposed of.

¶12A copy of this judgment be uploaded on the website of this Court forthwith.

SIDDHARTH MRIDUL

(JUDGE)

TALWANT SINGH (JUDGE)

MAY 31, 2023/rs

Click here to check corrigendum, if any

#S-13 IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Judgment Delivered On: 31.05.2023 JAAN MOHD & ORS. ..... Petitioners Versus MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF DELHI & ANR...... Respondents Advocates who appeared in this case: For the Petitioners : Mr. Awijit Paliwal, Advocate. For the Respondents : Ms. Anjali Chauhan, Standing Counsel along with Mr. K. Murali Kumar Reddy, Advocate for R-1/MCD. Mr. Laksh Khanna, APP for R-2/SHO, Police Station: Lodhi Colony. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SIDDHARTH MRIDUL HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TALWANT SINGH