Shillong, Nov 24: The Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA) has raised serious concerns over a recent summons by the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) and the Provisional Town Vending Committee (PTVC), calling it unilateral, arbitrary and in violation of due process.
The notification dated November 14, 2025 was published in a local newspaper and signed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills, who also serves as secretary of the PTVC. It listed several individuals and directed them to appear before a committee for claims and objections.
MGSPHSVA advisor Angela Rangad said that the move came as a shock as no discussions or decisions were taken within the PTVC regarding the formation of such a committee or the issuance of the notification.
“There has been no discussion whatsoever regarding this notification. No decision was taken in the PTVC on setting up such a committee or conducting this process. So the question arises, how did the PTVC secretary issue such a notification unilaterally?” Rangad said.
The association has repeatedly petitioned the authorities to establish proper standard operating procedures (SOPs) for claims and objections, especially after “confusion, bias, and arbitrary denials” were reported during the issuance of Certificates of Vending (COVs) to hawkers in Khyndailad. However, even though draft SOPs were submitted to both the PTVC and the SMB, no steps have been taken, Rangad said.
She highlighted discrepancies in the survey carried out in December 2023, which recorded only 29 vendors in the Shillong Civil Hospital area even though 43 genuine hawkers have been operating there for years. However, on May 27, 2024, the SMB published a list of only 14 eligible vendors, without conducting a claims and objections process or giving reasons for rejecting others.
“More than 50 percent of the surveyed hawkers have been wrongfully omitted. They have not even been given an opportunity to participate in the claims and objections process,” Rangad said.
She also questioned the latest November 2025 notification, which lists just 12 names, including some individuals who were never surveyed.
“A fair claims and objections process must include all 15 surveyed but rejected vendors, along with around 14 vendors who were left out of the survey altogether. These are genuine hawkers who have been vending in the area for years, and the Street Vendors Act 2014 exists to protect them,” Rangad added.
The MGSPHSVA further stated that no licences should be issued until a transparent and accountable verification process is completed, warning that failing to do so could lead to “corruption, injustice and abuse of power.”
Rangad also noted that while the association had inspected a temporary alternative site for hawkers during the construction of the Civil Hospital vending space, they made it clear that an agreement must be signed to ensure the shift is temporary and that vendors will be able to return to a permanent, designated space.
“Vendors will only move after an MoU is executed collectively with the hawkers and a proper claims and objections process is completed for all genuine vendors,” she said.
