Fri Dec 13 08:07:17 UTC 2024: ## Mumbai Hawkers Fight BMC Crackdown in High Court

**Mumbai, November 29** – Several hawkers’ unions in Mumbai are challenging the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) removal of hawkers from 20 locations across the city. The unions argue the BMC’s actions are arbitrary and disregard the rights of vendors who have been previously surveyed and are eligible for licenses.

Intervention applications have been filed with the Bombay High Court, which is already hearing a suo moto case on illegal hawking. The unions, including the Maharashtra Hawkers Federation and Lal Bavta General Kamgar Union, claim the BMC selected the 20 locations without due process. They cite instances where hawkers have been operating for generations, have undergone surveys, and even received government loans under the PM Svanidhi scheme.

One hawker, Arvind More, who has sold vegetables for 55 years, described repeated confiscation of his goods and the payment of fines and protection money. Prakash Reddy, secretary of the Lal Bavta General Kamgar Union, highlighted a case where 200 hawkers on Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Road were surveyed in 1997 and 2014, yet face removal.

The unions also criticize the BMC’s deployment of watchmen at the affected locations, questioning the lack of transparency in selecting these specific spots. The 20 locations span various areas including CSMT, Colaba Causeway, Hill Road, and several railway stations. While the BMC claims its actions are in line with a high court order to clear congested areas, the unions maintain the process is unfair and lacks due diligence.

The matter is further complicated by the pending results of the Town Vending Committee (TVC) elections, the body responsible for implementing the Street Vendors Act, 2014. Court cases related to these elections are delaying the Act’s implementation, further hindering a resolution. The next hearing on the hawkers’ case is scheduled for December 12th, where the TVC election issue is also expected to be addressed. The outcome will significantly impact the livelihoods of numerous Mumbai hawkers.

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