Bandra takes court route to evict hawkers……….Mayura Janwalkar
Mumbai: Fed up of seeing Hill Road in Bandra (West) perennially infested with hawkers, Ramdas Nayak Marg Retail Merchants Association (RNMRMA) has moved the Bombay high court seeking their complete removal.
The RNMRMA is an association of traders that owns shops on Ramdas Nayak Marg aka Hill Road. In the petition, they have stated that as per the development plan, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had acquired space on Hill Road for road widening. But, the purpose was defeated as more than 400 hawkers started flooding the space every day between 10am and 10.30pm.
Between January and April 2006, residents of the area had filed complaints against the hawker menace as they had occupied space even outside residential premises, the petition states.
Counsel for RNMRMA, Jamshed Mistry, also told the court last week that in November 2008, several complaints were made to the police about the hawker nuisance. He also cited the order of the Supreme Court which stated, public streets are not laid to facilitate the carrying on of private trade.
Counsel for RNMRMA, Jamshed Mistry, also told the court last week that in November 2008, several complaints were made to the police about the hawker nuisance. He also cited the order of the Supreme Court which stated, public streets are not laid to facilitate the carrying on of private trade.
Justice JN Patel and justice CL Pangarkar issued a notice to the BMC and other respondents in the case and has sought the opinion of the Bombay Hawkers Union as well.
The petition also states, The nexus between the hawkers and civic officials carries more weight than their duty.
In November last year, when several attempts by the BMC and the police to keep hawkers permanently off Hill Road failed miserably, BJP corporator Ashish Shelar brought up the issue in the standing committee.
Additional municipal commissioner Manisha Patankar Mhaiskar was asked to take action and submit a report. The petitioners should ask the court that the BMC and police be answerable to resident associations, said Shelar.
Aftab Siddiqui, who is also fighting against the menace, said, If hawkers are being evicted its because of Shelar. A court order will make the BMC and police take their jobs seriously.
(With inputs from Linah Baliga)
(With inputs from Linah Baliga)