SC slaps ban on encroachment, hawking

New Delhi, May 17 (UNI) The Supreme Court today imposed a ban on cooking of food items on pavements in Delhi.

A bench comprising Justices BP Singh and Harjit Singh Bedi however permitted preparation of tea and coffee on road sides eating joints provided it does not result in disposal of any waste.

The same be served in disposable glasses and cups, said the court.

The allottees of tehbazari/vending sites will make adequate arrangements for waste disposal of such cups and glasses. The court also directed that weekly bazars held in various parts of Delhi be allowed to be held only once a week and that too on the day when the local market stays closed.

The Court took a strong view of the encroachments on pavements by taxi stand owners. The apex court directed the district magistrate of the area and the SHO concerned to take appropriate actions within a week of reciept of the complaint and if the defiance continues the concerned authorities may cancel the license of the violating taxi stand.

Accepting the schemes prepared by MCD and NDMC for hawkers in the city with some modifications the apex court issued a general direction to the Commissioner of Delhi Police to provide adequate force to the two civic bodies whenever reqiured for implementation of the same. Any lapses on the part of the police will be seriously viewed by the court as amounting to a breach of an order passed by the court.

The Court issued directive to both the civic bodies to take appropriate steps to implement the schemes forthwith.

It meanwhile brushed aside the demand of the respondent for fresh survey to identify hawking sites and made it clear that no hawking or squatting shall be permitted in non-hawking zones.

UI AKS/SC SZ RP RS1754