SHILLONG: The High Court of Meghalaya has constituted a committee to examine the situation of hawkers in the city.
Justice S.R Sen in his order said he had perused the report and the photographs and “prima facie it shows that the situation is in a mess and the interim order issued on December 9 last year has been totally violated”.
East Khasi Hills SP M. Kharkrang informed the court that minor accidents do take place because city footpaths are occupied by hawkers but nothing fatal has happened till date. He also said the manner in which the hawkers are occupying the footpath and the main road is inconveniencing commuters.
After perusal of the report submitted jointly by the DC and the SP, the High Court constituted a larger Committee to examine the situation. The panel will have the East Khasi Hills DC as the chairman and the SP, the city civic body CEO, the Cantonment Board CEO, senior advocate TT Diengdoh, advocates L. Shangreiso and K. Paul as members.
Cantonment Board CEO V. Sohal had been asked whether the vacant land behind Shani Mandir on Butcher Road could be made the hawkers’ zone. However, the committee is empowered to identify an alternate land for the hawker zone. The matter has been listed for final hearing on Thursday.
