Bombay high court seeks interim hawking implementation plan from BMC and state

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Friday adjourned to April 21 a suo motu PIL on hawking issues and sought to know from BMC and State then how they intend to implement the court's recent orders in the interim period before a new scheme is formulated. The HC earlier gave time to the civic body to inform it of steps taken to announce the Town Vending Committee (TVC) election result for Mumbai pursuant to the court’s decision. The HC also sought immediate reply from the BMC and the State of Maharashtra in a PIL filed by the Goregaon Merchants Association, which raised serious concerns of physical safety of licensed shops and other establishments in that suburb, from the violence of illegal hawkers.The HC division bench headed by Justice AS Gadkari was hearing a 2023 suo motu PIL on ways to tackle the hawkers issue, including the obstruction of pavements and a bunch of other petitions. Advocate Jamshed Mistry, amicus curiae (friend of court) appointed by the HC in the suo motu PIL, said the BMC has to enforce the 2014 Street Vendors’ Act, which requires committees and a new scheme.A PIL filed last year by Goregaon Merchants Association through advocate Bahraiz Irani raised a serious concern of rampant illegal hawking on public spaces in western suburb of Goregaon, seriously inconveniencing citizens who have no footpath left, particularly outside Goregaon railway station in the west and also the Aarey Road junction. The PIL said the association was raising grievances with the BMC and police since 2014 to little avail. In 2020 and 2025, after some hawkers allegedly pelted stones at the association’s joint secretary Firdaus Irani’s, car, the HC directed urgent police protection and directed police to ensure no breakdown in law and order in the neighbourhood.But the PIL said in 2024-2025 the hawkers illegally encroached also the veranda of several legal shops. Later there was another attack allegedly by hawkers, and HC again ordered police protection, but hawkers continued their illegal acts, says the PIL, alleging that they demanded money in early 2025 from shops for alleged loss due to complaints filed by the association. The HC has posted the Goregaon matter separately for urgent hearing on April 15 and directed that BMC and the State file a reply.