HC grants additional time to hawkers to set up and dismantle shops
Shillong, July 16: The Meghalaya High Court has marginally extended the vending hours for hawkers at Khyndailad, allowing them to set up shops from 12 noon to 2:15 pm and from 7 pm to 9:15 pm, even as the government has remained firm on relocation of the hawkers by July 22.
The revised directive was issued by the court on Wednesday after hearing a PIL filed by the Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA).
In its earlier order issued on July 3, the court had fixed the vending hours from 12:30 pm to 2 pm and 7:30 pm to 9 pm and dismantle the shops by the vendors outside the fixed periods.
The additional time was granted to the vendors to lay out and pack up the shops.
“In other words, the vendors will be allowed to start setting up shop from 12 noon and to start packing up from 2 pm till 2.15 pm, and again to start setting up shop from 7 pm and pack up by 9:15 pm,” said the order issued by a division bench of chief justice IP Mukerji and justice W Diengdoh.
The court said the new vending hours will be implemented under strict supervision of public authorities and court-appointed special officer Subhasis Chakrawarty.
Besides, the court asked the traffic police to deploy extra personnel to regulate traffic in the area during the extended vending hours.
In its application, the hawkers’ association pointed out that the actual vending hours of the hawkers will be reduced further considering the time taken for setting up the shop and dismantling it, causing hardship to them.
On the other hand, the state’s advocate general emphatically tried to impress upon this court that some “vested interests” are involved in submitting the application.
He also explained the layout plans of three designated hawking zones – MUDA Complex Frontage, MUDA parking lot first floor, and Shillong Municipal Board parking lot opposite State Bank of India.
The government has taken all measures to ensure that these vendors are relocated by July 22, 2025, he said.
