The central legal point established is that street vendors are entitled to vend within specified zones in compliance with the terms and conditions of the certificates of vending and in accordance with the law.

JUDGMENT

Siddharth Mridul, J. (Open Court)--The present writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, has been instituted on behalf of the petitioners, praying as follows:

"In the above mentioned facts and circumstances, it is most respectfully prayed that this Hon'ble Court may be pleased to:

I. Pass an order directing the respondents not to disturb the petitioners operation of vending/hawking unit at Central Zone, Ward-S-58 of the petitioners in reference/compliance of the Certificates of Vending (COV) issued by the respondents;

II. Pass any such directions or order that this Hon'ble court deems fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the above mentioned case."

2. Issue notice.

3. Mr. Anuj Chaturvedi, learned Additional 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 Nos. 2 and 3.

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

5. For the sake of completeness, the said terms and conditions attached to the Certificates 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."

6. In 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.

7. It is an a