Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday ordered Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to issue identification cards to street vendors, who are covered in survey before February 21.
The court has made it clear to the Palike to issue the ID cards within four months, failing which the officers in charge will have to pay costs of Rs 1,000 for each day of delay. The court has passed the orders on the petition filed by S. Babu, president of Bengaluru Jilla Beedhi Vyapari Sanghatanegala Okkuta.
The petition filed in 2016 had sought for a survey to be conducted by the BBMP at the earliest, as well as the issuance of identity cards to street vendors in Bengaluru to assure them a harassment-free environment to carry out their livelihood.
In August 2017, the High Court had sought a status report from the BBMP about the pending survey and disbursal of identity cards to vendors. After this, the BBMP conducted a survey of street vendors in Bengaluru between September and October 2017. Welcoming the order, the Okkuta urged the BBMP that it should assure those street vendors who were left out from the last year’s survey, that they too will get ID cards in the coming months.
Relief for Nagaraj
The High Court exempted V. Nagaraj, an ex-councillor, from appearing before the police on Thursday to take part in the wedding of one of his sons - Gandhi.
While granting bail to Nagaraj, the high court had mandated that he should be present before the investigating authority every Thursday to mark his presence. Nagaraj was arrested following seizure of demonetised currency of Rs 14.8 crore. As for other plea seeking permanent exemption from appearing before the investigating authority, the court has adjourned the matter.
