Vending hours at Khyndailad – 12:30 pm to 2 pm & 7:30 pm to 9 pm
Shillong, July 3: The Meghalaya High Court has directed the police and local administration to follow due process of law while carrying out eviction drive even as it fixed vending hours for licensed hawkers in Khyndailad (Police Bazar) area.
The High Court issued the order on Thursday based on a PIL filed by the hawkers’ association alleging forced eviction by authorities without providing alternative vending space.
A division bench comprising chief justice IP Mukerji and justice W Diengdoh also appointed senior advocate Subhasis Chakrawarty as special officer to oversee implementation of its directions on the matter.
The court asked the special officer to prepare a list of authorised and licensed vendors, stated to be around 349, in consultation with the hawkers’ association and local authorities.
As per the court’s direction, licensed vendors will be allowed to vend merchandise in the Police Bazar area for limited hours (12:30 pm to 2 pm and 7:30 pm to 9 pm), subject to their undertaking not to exceed the time limit and disrupt traffic flow or human movement. Unlicensed vendors will not be allowed to sell goods in the area.
“The Special Officer along with the General Secretary of the Association, the local and police authorities will see to it that these unlicensed vendors do not vend any kind of goods in the area,” the court said.
“In case of breach, the special officer along with local and police authorities shall not allow any vendor to sell merchandise in the said area,” it added.
The court also said the general secretary of the association had undertaken to ensure that the vendor will shift to alternative vending place as and when provided by the local authority.
“If he does not, then he shall be liable to be evicted from the place of vending immediately,” the court said.
While the licensed hawkers will shift to alternative vending areas, the other hawkers can apply for valid licenses, it said.
The special officer will ensure peaceful implementation of the court’s orders and submit a report by August 5, 2025.
