Shillong, Oct 9: Members of the Hynñiewtrep Jail Road Street Vendors Association have submitted a representation to the CEO of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) seeking permission to continue vending until suitable space is allotted to them on Jail Road itself.
The vendors cited paragraph 12 of the High Court order dated September 7, 2026 in PIL No 9 of 2024, where the SMB had assured that remaining eligible vendors would be settled at designated zones at the earliest.
They said they have been vending vegetables, fish, meat and other essentials at Jail Road for over 20 years and depend entirely on daily earnings.
The association said while some spaces were allotted at Polo Market, those are already occupied by existing vendors and there is no suitable space for Jail Road vendors.
The vendors said they are not refusing to relocate but requested to be allowed to continue at their present place until suitable space at Jail Road is identified.
They assured cooperation on cleanliness, sanitation, waste disposal and ensuring public movement is not obstructed.
Yesterday, SMB employees and police carried out an eviction drive in the evening to stop street vendors selling goods on Jail Road. As the police and SMB team arrived, there was a clash with the hawkers. Police cordoned off the area where vendors used to sell and restricted entry to the stretch.
