The Meghalaya High Court has said that vendors without license will not be allowed to vend in Police Bazar. At the same time they are allowed to apply for vending license.
A division bench of Chief Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh while hearing a PIL today also said that the vendors will have to shift to the new site arranged for them by the Shillong Municipal Board and if they failed to do so they shall be evicted.
The High Court also appointed senior lawyer Subhasis Chakrawarty as special officer to monitor the implementation of the court’s order.
The court said the special officer in consultation with the general secretary of the association, the local and police authorities will prepare a list of authorised or licensed vendors, stated to be around 349.
“The Special Officer with his vast knowledge, experience, maturity and tact shall ensure that our orders in this public interest litigation are implemented without any breach of peace or commission of any offence,” the court said.
The court directed that vendors with license will be allowed to vend with alternate timings between 12.30 pm to 2 pm and 7: 30 pm to 9 pm, subject to the undertaking given by the general secretary of the Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA) that the vendors will not exceed the time limit to ensure that there is no disruption in traffic flow or movement of people.
“If there is breach, then the Special Officer along with the local and police authorities shall not allow any vendor to sell merchandise in the said area,” the court said.
The general secretary of MGSPHSVA assured the court that when the alternative vending place is provided by the local authority to the vendors, they will immediately shift.
The state government has been directed to pay the special officer an initial remuneration of Rs 75,000 by July 11, 2025.
The Special Officer will have to file a report containing subreports by local and police authorities before the High Court when it hears the matter on August 5, 2025
“On obtaining a report from those authorities regarding those applications this Court will consider taking further action regarding them,” the court said.
Earlier, P. Yobin, lawyer for the hawkers association, said the local and police authorities forcibly evicted hawkers from the Police Bazar area illegally without providing alternative vending space to the hawkers.
The allegation was denied by the Advocate General and the team of senior state counsel as an alternative vending area has been allocated for the hawkers who refused to shift.
The Advocate General also submitted that within a short time all the licensed vendors can be accommodated in the new vending area.
It may be noted that the Shillong Municipal Board has set up stalls at the MUDA parking complex at Khyndai Lad to accommodate the roadside vendors and the proposed shifting of licensed vendors is expected by the coming weeks.
