Vendors drag State Govt to court

SHILLONG: Angered by eviction drives conducted by the district administration, the hawkers of Police Bazar have filed a petition challenging the state government’s action before the High Court of Meghalaya.
The counsel for the  petitioners HL Shangreiso  submitted before the court on Wednesday that the case needed to be disposed of as early as possible as the hawkers were facing lot of trouble due to eviction drives conducted regularly by the administration.
He also further contended that these hawkers were not given any alternative place to run their business.
The court directed the government agencies to file counter affidavits within a week’s time.
The matter will come for hearing after the submission of the counter affidavit.
According to Shangreiso, the hawkers association sought the implementation of the street vendors (protection of livelihood and regulation of street vending) Act, 2014 and added that right to vending is a legal right under the Article 19 and 21 of Indian constitution.