Will summon CS, GCC chief if hawkers not removed: HC

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court held that it’d summon officers including the Chief Secretary and Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) commissioner if they fail to comply with the directions to remove the hawkers from the non-hawkers’ zone in the Broadway, Chennai.

“A case for contempt is made out. The counsel appearing for the contemnors is directed to keep the contemnors, as well as officers holding the said offices, present in the court on the next date of hearing for passing appropriate orders in their presence. However, their presence shall be exempted if compliance with the order is made on or before the next date of hearing,” the first bench comprising Chief Justice MN Bhandari and Justice N Mala passed the direction.

The ruling was made by the bench on hearing the contempt petition filed by original petitioners in this case. They sought a direction to take action against officers for not removing hawkers from the non-hawkers’ zone in Broadway and NSB Road near Madras High Court, despite a specific direction being passed by the HC on April 5.

On recording the submissions, the judge noted that 2 months had already elapsed, and even now, “learned counsel for the respondent contemnors is praying for further time to relocate the hawkers operating in the non-hawking zone in violation of the direction of this court”.

The matter has been adjourned to June 23.

The judge noted that 2 months had already elapsed, and even now, counsel for the respondent contemnors is praying for further time to relocate the hawkers