By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 28: The High Court of Meghalaya has directed the state government to submit its report on the “great interference” to traffic movement, traffic disruptions, traffic jams, and lack of parking space caused by shops set up by street vendors before January 6.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh issued the order on Monday while hearing a public interest litigation on the traffic issues caused by the street vendors.
The court considered the explanation offered by Additional Advocate General K. Khan for the continuing delay in the submission of the report of the state government in compliance with earlier orders passed in this matter.
“We grant the government time till 6th January 2025, peremptorily to comply with the order of this court,” the order read.
In addition to or in clarification of the materials, data, policy, plan of action, and timelines proposed to be included in the report, the court made a slew of observations for the government to consider and include while preparing the final report.
The court observed that more than one administrative authority is in charge of regulating traffic movement in a district.
“…Say for example, in a substantial part of Shillong which is described as the European part, traffic is regulated by the Municipal authority and the police, the police being responsible for the management of traffic whereas, the Municipality indirectly regulates the area for movement of traffic by granting licenses for conduct of street business.
“Similarly, there is more than one authority in other areas including the districts…” the order said.
The Principal Secretary of the Urban Affairs Department was directed to demarcate administrative areas for traffic movement. For each of these areas, he was directed to constitute a committee comprising authorities responsible for the regulation of traffic.
“A timeline should be set for the creation of this committee,” the Division Bench said while adding that the primary task of each committee should be to specify the spots where street vending is permitted by law.
Secondly, each committee should make an inventory of the vendors authorised to vend their goods in a specific area. The court said it should also ascertain whether those who have been authorised are vending or have sublet or parted with possession of those locations to third parties operating without licence or authorisation.
“Thereafter, areas which are not authorised to be used for vending should be carefully identified and demarcated. Thereafter on visit and inspection of sites, a detailed inventory should be made of persons who are vending in those unauthorised areas without licence,” the court said.
It also said the report should contain a detailed statement on the extent or percentage of the road surface occupied by unauthorised vendors and the extent to which they are interfering with traffic movement.
“The above particulars are to be included in the report directed to be prepared in terms of the order dated 14th May 2024. Such report should positively be filed by 28th February 2025,” the court added.