The Bombay High Court, in a firm reprimand to local police and civic bodies, questioned their effectiveness in managing the pervasive issue of illegal hawking across the city. During a session on Monday, the division bench comprising Justices M S Sonka and Kamal Khata challenged the authorities on their apparent inaction, suggesting an experiment to see if such leniency would be tolerated outside high-profile locations like the Mantralaya or the governor’s house.
The bench criticized the authorities for their repeated failures to address the complaints regarding unauthorized vendors, despite previous court directives aimed at curbing this issue. “This is sheer harassment of people. This is complete lawlessness,” the court exclaimed, questioning what recourse remains for the ordinary citizen when both the municipal corporation and police fail to respond to their grievances.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, the Justices rhetorically suggested that perhaps the scenario would be different if the same chaos were to unfold in more politically sensitive areas, like outside the Mantralaya or the governor’s residence, where security and civic order are strictly enforced.
Last year, the court itself initiated an inquiry into the matter, reflecting its severity and the public interest it garners. Just last month, the court had ordered the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the local police to provide a detailed report on their actions against illegal hawkers and their strategies to permanently resolve the issue.
However, during this latest hearing, both BMC counsel Anil Singh and government pleader Purnima Kantharia requested additional time to prepare their affidavits, a plea that visibly frustrated the bench. In response, the court sternly advised the authorities to “burn the midnight oil” and prepare the necessary documents within a week, underscoring the urgency and significance of the matter.
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The court also lamented the encroachment of public spaces by hawkers and vendors, which has significantly hindered pedestrian movement and contributed to the chaotic urban landscape, forcing pedestrians to navigate a gauntlet of illegally parked vehicles and unauthorized stalls.
