Chennai: A PIL has been filed in Madras high court seeking direction to commissioner of Greater Chennai corporation to revoke the identity cards issued to hawkers on NSC Bose Road at Parry’s Corner.
When the matter came up for hearing before division bench comprising justices M. Sathyanarayanan and N. Seshasayee on Monday morning, the bench summoned the Chennai corporation commissioner to present in the court after lunch.
In the petition, social activist ‘Traffic’ Ramaswamy alleged that the Marina and Elliot’s beaches had been encroached by hawkers. He had filed a PIL petition in 2015 to evict scores of hawkers on NSC Bose Road and court passed an order in his favour. Corporation officials with the help of police removed encroachments. However, a large number of hawkers returned to the road and now they possess identity cards issued by the Corporation under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act of 2014. Violating the Act, the corporation issued to the cards to the hawkers. Hence, he sought the corporation to cancel the cards.
When the matter was taken up by the bench after lunch break, corporation commissioner D. Karthigeyan appeared before the court. Stating that everyday several petitions were being filed before the court regarding the civic issue, the bench posed several questions as to what steps were taken by the corporation to implement Street Vendors Act. Every time when the matter taken up by the court, the corporation officials seek time, the bench said. The bench said whether the corporation identified any alternated place to accommodate hawkers and any committee had been formed to take up the issue.
The judge also asked why hawkers were permitted on busy road in the city. Corporation counsel replied that over 20 hawkers were identified in the city for relocation. The counsel also replied that the corporation is in the process of identifying suitable alternate place for the dislocated hawkers.
Directing the corporation to file reply the bench posted the matter to July 20 for further hearing.
