The central legal point established in the judgment is the interpretation and application of the terms and conditions of the Certificate of Vending in compliance with the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.

JUDGMENT

Siddharth Mridul, J. (Open Court)

1. 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 facts and circumstances stated herein above, it is Most Respectfully prayed that this Hon'ble Court may graciously be pleased to:

I. Pass an order directing the respondents to allow the petitioners to peacefully vend in terms of the Certificate of Vending issued to them.

II. Pass an Order directing the respondents to ensure that the petitioners be allowed to peacefully vend on their vending sites i.e., On the Footpath, Esplande Road, Cycle Market, Photo Market, City SP Zone, Ward-84-N, New Delhi without any hindrance being caused by any public official.

III. Pass an order directing the respondents, their officials, their agents etc. be restrained from harassing the petitioners from peacefully vending at their vending sites.

IV. Pass an order directing the respondent MCD to correct the nomenclature in the column for Type of Vendor from "Others" to "Stationary Street Vendor" (in view of the Section 6 of the Act) as detailed in the vending certificates issued to the petitioners.

V. Pass an order for quashing and setting aside the terms of certificate of vending printed at the back side of the vending certificate to the extent which is not applicable to a stationary street vendor.

VI. Pass an order directing the TVC, City SP Zone to decide the representation dated 07.08.2023 made by the petitioners for declaring them as a Stationary Street Vendor in terms of the Section 6 of the Act.

VII. Pass any such directions or order that this Hon'ble Court deems fit and proper in the f acts and circumstances of the above- mentioned case."

2. Issue notice.

3. Mr. Puneet Yadav, learned Additional Standing Counsel, accepts notice on behalf of the respondent No. 1/MCD and Mr. Abhinav Garg, learned Panel Counsel, GNCTD, accepts notice on behalf of the respondent Nos. 3 and 4/SHO, P.S.: Kashmere Gate.

4. Learned Additional 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 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 (Protec