New Delhi, Mar 20 (UNI) In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court recently granted interim protection from eviction to around 19,000 street vendors in Pimpri-Chinchwad, near Pune, Maharashtra.

A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta issued the order, stating, "The exercise to accommodate the 19,792 street vendors or 14,000 and odd street vendors, as pointed out by the learned counsel appearing for the respondent Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, is continuing."

"Until the exercise is completed, the parties shall maintain the status quo for possession and functioning of the street vendors," the court said.

The court directed the status quo be maintained until the identification and notification of hawking and non-hawking zones are completed under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.

The court also emphasised that hawkers should be treated with dignity and respect and cannot be evicted illegally.

In October 2023, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation sought at least six weeks to complete the vendor identification process under the Street Vendors Act. However, nearly a year later, in September 2024, the Corporation informed the court that the final list of 19,792 street vendors had been prepared as of February 7, 2024. Despite this, due to financial constraints and limited resources, it required additional time to accommodate all vendors.

Considering that the process is still ongoing, the Supreme Court directed that the status quo be maintained regarding the possession and functioning of street vendors until the exercise is completed.

Advocate Zain Haider appeared and argued for the petitioners. UNI SNG SSP