SHILLONG, Aug 14: The High Court of Meghalaya on Thursday directed the Shillong Municipal Board to file a report on the number of vending licences issued for the purpose of street vending along with the names of the licensees in Laitumkhrah area.
The court also directed the Board to inspect, conduct an enquiry and include in its report the names and the number of the vendors who are vending merchandise in that area without licences. The Board has been ordered to file the report in the court by August 28, 2025.
The directions were issued by a division bench, comprising Chief Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh, during the hearing of an application filed by Seng Samla Laitumkhrah “Ieng Skhem Ha Ka Hok,” a registered society, which expressed willingness to be added as a party in a PIL in this regard.
The Seng Samla expressed great concern over unlawful or unauthorised vending by hawkers in the Laitumkhrah area.
“It wants reach of the orders passed by this Court in clearing some areas of the city of unlicensed hawkers, namely Police Bazar, to extend to Laitumkhrah by evicting the unlicensed vendors from the roads and footpaths making them encumbrance free, cleaner, convenient and safe for pedestrians and vehicular traffic,” the court said in an order.
The impleadment of the applicant was opposed by the petitioner, the Hawkers Association and the Advocate for the state government on the ground that the court in this PIL has already taken cognisance of this malady in all the thoroughfares of Shillong.
“The scope of the writ covers the entire city. According to Tshering Yangi B, Additional Advocate General, the work that has been done by the State agency in the Police Bazar area would be carried forward to other areas also, stage by stage, and there is no necessity of further parties and entities being involved in the public interest litigation as that might complicate matters,” the court said.
It considered the submission made by the applicant’s counsel that the applicant society represents the youth of the area, Laitumkhrah; that the members of the society are active citizens of the state and are deeply interested in the upkeep of the roads, streets and footpaths in the said area.
“For the time being, the applicant Seng Samla Laitumkhrah was allowed to participate in the proceedings by its presence only, without being added as a party. The question of its being added as a party respondent will be considered on the adjourned date,” the court said.
