Bombay HC rejects plea seeking permission to allow hawking anywhere in city

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday rejected the plea seeking permission to allow hawking anywhere in the city except in authorised areas.

The petition was filed by the associations of hawkers in Mumbai demanding relief against the anti-encroachment and anti-hawking drives of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other departments.

They sought permission to establish their shops anywhere in Mumbai.

The court, however, has asked the hawkers to put their shops only in permitted hawking zones authorised by different departments.

The HC had categorically made it clear that no shops will be allowed in the 150 meters radius of schools, hospitals, railway stations and religious places.

Earlier in the day, amid the hawkers rally in Mumbai, the Congress and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) members clashed with each other forcing the police to resort to lathi-charge.

The Congress came in support of the hawkers at Dadar station when a group of at least 30-40 MNS workers reached the spot and started hurling potatoes at the Congress workers.

The police have arrested workers from both parties for vandalism.

Earlier on October 30, an FIR has been lodged against Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam for addressing a rally of hawkers in Malad without getting prior permission from the police.

Meanwhile, after the horrific Elphinstone foot overbridge stampede that claimed 23 lives, the MNS has taken up strict action against the hawkers operating outside railway stations.