The Delhi High Court in the case Chandini Chowk Sarv Vyapar Mandal (Regd.) v. Delhi Police Through Commission Of Police And Ors observed and has directed that the city authorities to ensure that strict vigil and action on day to day basis is taken for removal of encroachments in the non-vending areas of Chandni Chowk.
The Division bench comprising of Justice Tushar Rao Gedela and Justice Ravinder Dudeja in its order stated that the encroachments are not removed or re-occurs, the Assistant Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, MCD of the concerned zone and SHO of Lahori Gate and Kotwali police stations shall be personally held responsible.
In the present case, the court disposed of the petition filed by an organization, Chandni Chowk Sarv Vyapar Mandal, wherein concerning illegal encroachments in Chandni Chowk area, being a no hawking and no vending zone.
The bench in the case observed that the various orders passed during the pendency of the petition, which was being filed in 2017, display the ‘anxiety of the court’ in order to ensure enforcement of rule of law as also keeping in check the encroachments in the non-vending zones.
The court in the case stated that this court have perused the said orders and are of the considered opinion that the SHO of the concerned PS as also the Assistant Commissioner of the concerned zone, MCD shall be personally responsible in order to ensure that the directions, as it is formulated by the STF in its minutes dated December 07, 2023 shall be scrupulously followed and implemented by the local authorities.
The court stated that the Special Task Force in its meeting held on December 07 decided that a joint encroachment removal drives which comprises of the officials of MCD and Delhi Police, will be taken on regular basis.It was also decided by the court that the beat officials of Delhi Police will keep vigil in the area after every encroachment drive and prevent resurfacing of the illegal hawking or vending in no hawking or no vending zones.
The court while considering the facts and circumstances of the case observed and has dispose of the writ petition with a direction that the respondents shall strictly adhere with the actions to be undertaken as decided by the STF in its minutes dated December 07, 2023 and thereof the non-compliance shall be viewed seriously by this Court.
The court in the case expressed its concern over the rampant illegal encroachment by the hawkers and vendors in the area of Chandni Chowk and has remarked that the redevelopment activity of the area was ‘falling in disrepair’.
Further, the court also pulled up the Delhi Police over it’s failure to install 330 CCTV cameras in the area and said that the judicial directions on the issue were falling on deaf ears.