HC wants squatting vendors ousted from Nehru Place market
The court’s suo motu action came after the fire dept’s efforts to put out a minor blaze in the marketplace was hampered by encroachments
NEW DELHI: Appalled by the lack of cleanliness and presence of encroachment in the Nehru Place area that hampered firefighters’ efforts to douse a blaze at the popular marketplace the previous day, the Delhi high court on Friday asked the police and the civic administration to hold a joint meeting to remove vendors under the city’s no-squatting policy.
Taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, a bench of justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh asked the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Delhi Police to file a status report on the matter, noting that the paved area is full of vendors, which restricted the movement of the fire tenders.
It directed that regular drives be conducted in the Nehru Place area by SDMC and Delhi Police, along with the assistance of the local station house officer (SHO), so that the vendors, once removed, do not return.
A fire broke out inside a showroom on the first floor of a multi-storey building in Nehru Place on Thursday, after which six fire tenders were rushed to the spot. There were no casualties in the fire, which reportedly started due to a short circuit in an electric board.
Taking note of a video of the fire, the court observed that the fire engine struggled to reach the spot due to the presence of hawkers. “The paved area is full of vendors which have restricted the movement of the fire tenders where the fire had broken out. The lack of cleanliness and maintenance on the part of the municipal bodies is apparent,” the bench noted in its order.
Appearing for the city police, advocate Sanjay Lao, standing counsel (criminal) of the Delhi government, told the court that several vendors are covered by stay orders of the court, allowing them to squat in the area.
Taking note of this submission, the court asked the authorities to sit together and solve the issue, while also asking them to file status reports on the no-hawking and no-vending policies, and the steps that can be taken to stop illegal occupation on the roads.
DDA counsel Arjun Pant said that the area is under MCD and the agency would look into the matter.
Advocate Divya Prakash Pande, appearing for SDMC, told the court that the PWD was carrying out construction work in the area, and should be impleaded as party.
“I have personally seen the construction and the demolition being carried on the main road, say for instance the flyover... the agencies pick up the dump and throw it behind in an area which is not visible by the eyes,” he said.
However, this did not go down well with the court, which remarked, “Let’s restrict ourselves only to Nehru Place area. It seems that you are now covering up your wrongdoings.” The bench took note of the condition of the roads, and issued notice to the Public Works Department (PWD) of the Delhi government, asking them to clarify their role in the construction work at the Nehru place area.
The court has set August 24 as the next date of hearing.