The Delhi High Court today issued a notice to the Delhi Police Commissioner and 37 other government officials on a contempt plea filed by hawkers alleging they were being harassed by civic bodies and police in violation of its earlier order.
A bench of acting Chief Justice B D Ahmed and Justice S Mridul sought the responses of Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi and several other police officials.
An Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) councillor along with the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, licensing inspector and other officers were also issued contempt notice for allegedly defying the court's January 16, 2013, order.
The court's order came on a plea filed by an NGO Delhi Shramik Sangathan, representing around 130 hawkers of Harkesh Nagar Subzi Mandi, Okhla Industrial Area Phase II.
Their contempt petition, filed through advocate Indira Unninayar, said that despite the court's earlier order not to harass the hawkers, police and the civic bodies continue to harass them.
The high court had on January 16 last year restrained Delhi Police from interfering with the hawkers saying their right to pursue street-vending was protected.
The hawkers have alleged they are being harassed in order to make them vacate the premises, where they are hawking for the past 20 years, by demanding bribes from them.
They have also alleged civic bodies are dumping garbage in the surrounding area as well as constructing a toilet there.
They have also cited in their plea an apex court order of September 9 last year by which the Supreme Court had directed that no hawker can be removed.
Unninayar said when the hawkers peacefully protested against the "tactics" of the officials, a false FIR was filed against them.
