The central legal point established in the judgment is that the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, provides protection to street vendors and allows them to continue vending in specific areas under certain conditions.

JUDGMENT

Siddharth Mridul, J. (Open Court)

CM APPL. 23519/2023 (Exemption)

Exemption granted, subject to all just exceptions.

The application is disposed of accordingly.

W.P.(C) 6001/2023

1. At the outset, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners seeks leave to delete Central Public Works Department/respondent no. 2 from the array of parties on the ground that no relief is prayed for in the present writ petition against the said respondent.

2. Leave and liberty granted.

3. Let amended memo of parties be filed.

4. The present petition has been instituted on behalf of the petitioners under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, 1950, praying as follows:

"A) Issue an appropriate Writ of Mandamus, Order or direction to the Respondents No.1-3 not to disturb/dislocate the petitioners from vending in the area Opposite Mechanic Market, Near Hanuman Mandir, Sewa Nagar, Delhi-110003 till the allotment of permanent vending site to the Petitioners.

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

5. Issue notice.

6. Mr. Dhanesh Relan, learned counsel accepts notice on behalf of the respondent no. 1/Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Ms. Urvi Mohan, learned counsel accepts notice on behalf of respondent no.3.

7. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the MCD, has handed-up in the Court today, the terms and conditions, permitting the petitioners to vend.

8. Let the same be taken on the record. For 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.

2. Vending certificate is non-transferable.

3. It is mandatory for the vendor to follow the vending period and zone as determined by TVC or local body.

4. Vendor shall not give his vending certificate on rent in any way.

5. Vendor shall not have any infectious disease.

6. Vendor shall have to take care of hygiene on vending place/zone and nearby area and also take care of public health.

7. Vendor shall display copy of vending certificate on his place/vending site and will produce original documents to TVC/concerned inspector whenever required.

8. Vendor/Squatter shall insure that no hindrance be caused to pedestrian and vehicular moment.

9. Vendor 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.

10. The street vendor shall not do any unauthorized/illegal activity.

11. Mobile vendors shall not stay or vend more than 30 minutes or time prescribed by the TVC at place in a vending/squatting zone.

12. Vendors 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.

13. Vending certificate can be cancelled or suspended on the basis of violations.

14. Vendor shall not build or construct any kind of permanent or temporary structure at vending site.

15. Seller shall adopt health and hygiene conditions as required by local laws and court orders.

16. Vendor have to follow all the conditions mentioned in Delhi Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Scheme, 2019."

9. It 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 A-1, to the present writ petition.