S. Ravindra Bhat, J. (Oral)

1. Issue notice in LPA 303/2016, 305/2016, 310/2016, 312/2016 & 315/2016. Mr. Harsha Peechara, Advocate appears for the New Delhi Municipal Council (hereafter referred to as "NDMC") and Mr. Satyakam, Advocate who appears for Govt. of NCT of Delhi accepts notice for it. In all other appeals, notices had been issued previously. With consent of the counsel for the parties all these matters have been taken up for hearing.

2. The common question which arises for consideration in these appeals, is the true interpretation of Sections 3 and 4 of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 (hereafter called "the Act"). This enactment appears to be the first legislative measure to secure livelihoods of urban street vendors in public spaces in the cities and towns in India and at the same time, outlining the regulatory concerns which municipal and local authorities are to keep in mind, while ensuring that the members of the general public are not inconvenienced. In one sense, the Act is a first as far as it gives effect to the right to livelihood of street vendors, which had been declared by the Constitution Bench of the S