JUDGMENT

The writ petition is filed seeking a direction to respondents 6 to 8 not to remove the petty shops of the petitioners except by following the procedure prescribed under the provisions of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending)

Act, 2014.

2. A counter affidavit has been filed by the local authority, which reads as follows:-

3. It is humbly submitted that on 06.07.24 a meeting was convened by Police, PWD, Vaikom Municipality, MVD and Revenue and presided by Chairperson of this respondent to remove all unauthorized street vendors, On 12.07.2024 another meeting convened with above authority including representatives of industry and merchants association,various trade union representatives to constitute a subcommittee to control the unauthorized street vendors and issue notice to the unauthorized street vendors.

4. It is humbly submitted that the street vendors are increased day by day in Vaikom Municipality. As a result heavy traffic/block, increasing accidents and antisocial activities are noticed. On 21.08.2024 a combined decision took by Police, PWD, Vaikom Municipality, MVD and Revenue to implement traffic regulatory committee decision an