CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Thursday unveiled a comprehensive scheme for rehabilitation and regulation of hawkers in Chennai.

The measures include issuing of identity cards and summary removal of unauthorised hawkers.

The First Bench comprising Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice Prabha Sridevan was passing interim orders on a batch of petitions for and against removal of roadside shops, besides a set of public interest litigation petitions.

The Bench also directed the Chennai Corporation to start tender process for the construction and improvement of the existing markets notwithstanding the model code of conduct issued by the Election Commission. It, however, stipulated that the tenders were not to be awarded until the elections were over. It said identity cards must be issued to all existing enumerated hawkers, and added that the process of identification, wherever it was not done, should be completed by the court-appointed Implementation Committee.

All the enumerated existing hawkers, who would be allotted an earmarked space in markets, should apply for and obtain licence from the Corporation for the specified areas from June 30 onwards, it said.

Summary removal

"Only hawkers with identity cards can carry on business in specified areas covered by the scheme. All other hawkers shall be deemed to be unauthorised persons and they shall be summarily removed without prior notice," the Bench ruled.

In the event of the death of a licence-holder, a legal heir could apply for licence with photo identity card. The licence fee should be Rs. 100 per month for hawkers allotted a space in markets.

The Bench also said no hawker should extend his business beyond the licensed area.

The scheme was not applicable to mobile vendors selling vegetables, flower, fruits and dairy products, the judges said, adding that five per cent of the area was to be earmarked for the handicapped and disabled.

No transfer

Since the implementation of the scheme was likely to take a minimum of six months, the judges directed the State Government not to transfer the present Commissioner of the Chennai Corporation from the post without court's permission.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail